L53RARY 

UN!V^RS!TY   OP 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  Dieeo 


^ 


presented  to  the 

IJBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  •  SAN  DIF.GO 

by 

FRIENDS  OF  THE  LIBRARY 


James  A.    Leftwich 

donor 


UNIVERSITV  OF  ^'^,'-"'Y"|i  ,; 


Pi 


3  1822  01609  5473 


Central  University  Library 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 
Note:  This  item  is  subject  to  recall  after  two  weeks. 

Date  Due 

U.CS.Ü. 

NOV  0  9  1993 

IMTCDIIDDAPY     lOAN 

^.uv  lo  ^«i' 

0139(1/91) 

UCSDLib. 

LOUISE     MUHLBACH 


.-^ 


t-^MBwHr 


Each  one  inquiring  of  his  neighbor  why  the  King  had  come 
Mithlbach — '^Frederick  the  Great  and  His  Court,"  Vol.  One,  /.  270 


THE  WORKS  OF 

LOUISE     MÜHLBACH 

'  J 
IN     EIGHTEEN     VOLUMES 

FREDERICK    THE     GREAT 
AND  HIS  COURT 


FRONTISPIECES  IN  COLOR  FROM  PAINTINGS  BY 
WALTER    H.   EVERETT 


NEW  YORK 

P.    F.    COLLIER    &    SON 

M  C  M  I   I 
I 


Copyright  1866 
By  D.  appleton  AND  COMPANY 


OOl^TEI^TS. 


BOOK   I. 

PAoa 

Chap.  I.- 

—The  Queen  Sophia  Dorothea,            .           , 

1 

II.- 

—Frederick  William  I.,       .            .            . 

7 

IIL- 

—The  Tobacco  Club,     .... 

.      13 

IV.- 

—Air-Castles,           .... 

.      .      21 

V.- 

—Father  and  Son,          .... 

.      27 

VI.- 

-The  White  Saloon, 

34 

VII.- 

-The  Maid  of  Honor  and  the  Gardener, 

.      41 

VIII.- 

—Von  ManteufEel,  the  Diplomat,    . 

46 

IX.- 

—Frederick,  the  Prince  Royal,             .            . 

.      57 

X.- 

—The  Prince  Royal  and  the  Jew,  . 

64 

XI.- 

—The  Princess  Royal  Elizabeth  Christine,     . 

.      73 

•      XII.- 

-The  Poem,              .... 

79 

XIII.- 

—The  Banquet,  ..... 

.      87 

XIV.- 

-Le  Roi  est  Mort.    Vive  le  Roi !  .           . 

99 

XV.- 

—We  are  King,  ..... 

.    106 

XVI.- 

-Royal  Grace  and  Royal  Displeasure, 

115 

BOOK  II. 


Chap.  I. — The  Garden  of  Monbijou,      .  , 

II. — The  Queen's  Maid  of  Honor, 
III. — Prince  Augustus  William,     .  . 

IV.— The  King  and  the  Son,     . 
v.— The  Queen's  Tailor,    . 
VI. — The  Illustrious  Ancestors  of  a  Tailor, 
VIL— Soflfri  e  Taci,   .... 
iii 


126 

137 
145 
150 
160 
167 
173 


MUHLBACH  1 


Vol.  1 


ly 


CONTENTS. 


PAGB 

VIII.- 

— The  Coronation,     .... 

185 

IX.- 

— Dorris  Ritter,  ..... 

.     195 

X.- 

—Old  and  New  Sufferings,  . 

203 

XI.- 

—The  Proposal  of  Marriage,     . 

.    212 

XII.- 

—The  Queen  as  a  Matrimonial  Agent, 

217 

XIIL- 

—Proposal  of  Marriage, 

.    227 

XIV.- 

—The  Misunderstanding,    . 

235 

XV.- 

—Soiree  of  the  Queen  Dowager, 

.    242 

XVL- 

—Under  the  Lindens, 

259 

XVIL- 

—The  Politician  and  the  French  Tailor, 

.    270 

KVIIL- 

—The  Double  Rendezvous, . 

278 

BOOK  III. 

Chap.  I. — The  Intriguing  Courtiers,      ....    288 
II.— The  King  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,    .  295 
III. — The  undeceived  Courtier,      ....    306 
IV.— The  Bridal  Pair,   .....  311 
v.— The  French  and  German  Tailors,  or  the  Mon- 
tagues and  Capulets  of  Berlin,       .            .  .    321 
VI. — In  Rheinsberg,       .....  380 
VII.— The  King  and  his  Friend,      .            .            .  .341 
VIII.— The  Farewell  Audience  of  Marquis  von  Botta, 

the  Austrian  Ambassador,        .           .           .  346 

IX.— The  Masquerade,         .            .            .            .  .353 

X.— The  Maskers, 360 

.  XI. — Reward  and  Punishment,       ....    367 

XII.— The  Return, 379 

XIII.— The  Death  of  the  Old  Time,  .           .           .  .388 

XIV.— The  Discovery, 394 

XV.— The  Countermine,       .            .            .            .  .407 

XVI.— The  Surprise, 420 

XVII.— The  Resignation  of  Baron  von  Pöllnitz,       .  .    430 


FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 
AND  HIS  COURT 


FREDERICK    THE    GREAT 
AND    HIS    COURT. 


BOOK  I. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

THE   QUEEN  SOPHIA   DOROTHEA. 

The  palace  glittered  with  light  and  splendor;  the  ser- 
vants ran  here  and  there,  arranging  the  sofas  and  chairs; 
the  court  gardener  cast  a  searching  glance  at  the  groups 
of  flowers  which  he  had  placed  in  the  saloons;  and  the 
major  domo  superintended  the  tables  in  the  picture  gal- 
lery. The  guests  of  the  queen  will  enjoy  to-night  a  rich 
and  costly  feast.  Every  thing  wore  the  gay  and  festive 
appearance  which,  in  the  good  old  times,  the  king's  palace 
in  Berlin  had  been  wont  to  exhibit.  Jesting  and  merry- 
making were  the  order  of  the  day,  and  even  the  busy  ser- 
vants were  good-humored  and  smiling,  knowing  that  this 
evening  there  was  no  danger  of  blows  and  kicks,  of  fierce 
threats  and  trembling  terror.  Happily  the  king  could 
not  appear  at  this  ball,  which  he  had  commanded  Sophia 
to  give  to  the  court  and  nobility  of  Berlin. 

The  king  was  ill,  the  gout  chained  him  to  his  chamber, 
and  during  the  last  few  sleepless  nights  a  presentiment 
weighed  upon  the  spirit  of  the  ruler  of  Prussia.  He  felt 
that  the  reign  of  Frederick  the  First  would  soon  be  at  an 
end;  that  the  doors  of  his  royal  vault  would  soon  open 
to  receive  a  kingly  corpse,  and  a  new  king  would  mount 
the  throne  of  Prussia. 
1 


2  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

This  last  thought  filled  the  heart  of  the  king  with 
rage  and  bitterness.  Frederick  William  would  not  die! 
he  would  not  that  his  son  should  reign  in  his  stead;  that 
this  weak,  riotous  youth,  this  dreamer,  surrounded  in 
Rheinsberg  with  poets  and  musicians,  sowing  flowers  and 
composing  ballads,  should  take  the  place  which  Frederick 
the  First  had  filled  so  many  years  with  glory  and  great 
results. 

Prussia  had  no  need  of  this  sentimental  boy,  this 
hero  of  fashion,  who  adorned  himself  like  a  French  fop, 
and  preferred  the  life  of  a  sybarite,  in  his  romantic  castle, 
to  the  battle-field  and  the  night-parade;  who  found  the 
tones  of  his  flute  sweeter  than  the  sounds  of  trumpets 
and  drums;  who  declared  that  there  were  not  only 
kings  by  "  the  grace  of  God,  but  kings  by  the  power  of 
genius  and  intellect,  and  that  Voltaire  was  as  great  a  king 
— yes,  greater  than  all  the  kings  anointed  by  the  Pope !  " 
What  use  has  Prussia  for  such  a  sovereign?  No,  Fred- 
erick William  would  not,  could  not  die!  His  son  should 
not  reign  in  Prussia,  destroying  what  his  father  had 
built  up!  Never  should  Prussia  fall  into  the  hands  of  a 
dreaming  poet !  The  king  was  resolved,  therefore,  that 
no  one  should  know  he  was  ill ;  no  one  should  believe  that 
he  had  any  disease  but  gout ;  this  was  insignificant,  never 
fatal.  A  man  can  live  to  be  eighty  years  old  with  the 
gout ;  it  is  like  a  faithful  wife,  who  lives  with  us  even 
to  old  age,  and  with  whom  we  can  celebrate  a  golden  wed- 
ding. The  king  confessed  to  himself  that  he  was  once 
more  clasped  in  her  tender  embraces,  but  the  people 
and  the  prince  should  not  hope  that  his  life  was  threat- 
ened. 

For  this  reason  should  Sophia  give  a  ball,  and  the 
world  should  see  that  the  queen  and  her  daughters  were 
gay  and  happy. 

The  queen  was  indeed  really  gay  to-day;  she  was 
free.     It    seemed    as    if   the   chains    which    bound    her 


AND  HIS  COURT.  3 

had  fallen  apart,  and  the  yoke  to  which  she  had  bowed 
her  royal  neck  was  removed.  To-day  she  was  at  liberty 
to  raise  her  head  proudly,  like  a  queen,  to  adorn  herself 
with  royal  apparel.  Away,  for  to-day  i^t  least,  with  sober 
robes  and  simple  coiffure.  The  king  was  fastened  to  his 
arm-chair,  and  Sophia  dared  once  more  to  make  a  glit- 
tering and  queenly  toilet.  With  a  smile  of  proud  satis- 
faction, she  arrayed  herself  in  a  silken  robe,  embroidered 
in  silver,  which  she  had  secretly  ordered  for  the  ball  from 
her  native  Hanover.  Her  eyes  beamed  with  joy,  as  she 
at  last  opened  the  silver-bound  casket,  and  released  from 
their  imprisonment  for  a  few  hours  these  costly  brilliants, 
which  for  many  years  had  not  seen  the  light.  With  a 
smiling  glance  her  eyes  rested  upon  the  glittering  stones, 
which  sparkled  and  flamed  like  falling  stars,  and  her 
heart  beat  high  with  delight.  For  a  queen  is  still  a  wom- 
an, and  Sophia  Dorothea  had  so  often  suffered  the  pains 
and  sorrows  of  woman,  that  she  longed  once  more  to  ex- 
perience the  proud  happiness  of  a  queen.  She  resolved 
to  wear  all  her  jewels;  fastened,  herself,  the  sparkling 
diadem  upon  her  brow,  clasped  upon  her  neck  and  arms 
the  splendid  brilliants,  and  adorned  her  ears  with  the 
long  pendants ;  then  stepping  to  the  Venetian  mirror,  she 
examined  herself  critically.  Yes,  Sophia  had  reason  to 
be  pleased;  hers  was  a  queenly  toilet.  She  looked  in  the 
glass,  and  thought  on  bygone  days,  on  buried  hopes  and 
vanished  dreams.  These  diamonds  her  exalted  father 
had  given  when  she  was  betrothed  to  Frederick  William. 
This  diadem  had  adorned  her  brow  when  she  married. 
The  necklace  her  brother  had  sent  at  the  birth  of  her 
first  child ;  the  bracelet  her  husband  had  clasped  upon  her 
arm  when  at  last,  after  long  waiting,  and  many  prayers. 
Prince  Frederick  was  born.  Each  of  these  jewels  was  a 
proud  memento  of  the  past,  a  star  of  her  youth.  Alas, 
the  diamonds  had  retained  their  brilliancy;  they  were 
still  stars,  but  all  else  was  vanished  or  dead — her  youth 


4  FREDERICK   THE  GREAT 

and  her  dreams,  her  hopes  and  her  love!  Sophia  had  so 
often  trembled  before  her  husband,  that  she  no  longer 
loved  him.  With  her,  "  perfect  love  had  not  cast  out 
fear."  Fear  had  extinguished  love.  How  could  she  love 
a  man  who  had  been  only  a  tyrant  and  a  despot  to  her 
and  to  her  children?  who  had  broken  their  wills,  cut  oS 
their  hopes,  and  trodden  under  foot,  not  only  the  queen, 
but  the  mother?  As  Sophia  looked  at  the  superb  bracelet, 
the  same  age  of  her  darling,  she  thought  how  unlike  the 
glitter  and  splendor  of  these  gems  his  life  had  been ;  how 
dark  and  sad  his  youth;  how  colorless  and  full  of  tears. 
She  kissed  the  bracelet,  and  wafted  her  greeting  to  her 
absent  son.  Suddenly  the  door  opened,  and  the  Prin- 
cesses Ulrica  and  Amelia  entered. 

The  queen  turned  to  them,  and  the  sad  expression  van- 
ished from  her  features  as  her  eyes  rested  upon  the  lovely 
and  loving  faces  of  her  daughters. 

"  Oh,  how  splendid  you  look,  gracious  mamma !  "  ex- 
claimed the  Princess  Amelia,  as  she  danced  gayly  around 
her  mother.  "  Heaven  with  all  its  stars  has  fallen  around 
you,  but  your  sweet  face  shines  out  amongst  them  like 
the  sun  in  his  glory." 

"  Flatterer,"  said  the  queen,  "  if  your  father  heard 
you,  he  would  scold  fearfully.  If  you  compare  me  to  the 
sun,  how  can  you  describe  him  ?  " 

"  Well,  he  is  Phoebus,  who  harnesses  the  sun  and 
points  out  his  path." 

"  True,  indeed,"  said  the  queen,  "  he  appoints  his 
path.  Poor  sun! — poor  queen! — she  has  not  the  right  to 
send  one  ray  where  she  will !  " 

"  Who,  notwithstanding,  assumes  the  right,  gracious 
mamma,"  said  Amelia,  smiling,  and  pointing  to  the  dia- 
dem, "  for  I  imagine  that  our  most  royal  king  and  father 
has  not  commanded  you  to  appear  in  those  splendid 
jewels." 

"  Commanded,"   said   the   queen,   trembling ;    "  if   he 


AND  HIS  COURT.  5 

could  see  me  he  would  expire  with  rage  and  scorn.     You 
know  he  despises  expense  and  ornament." 

"He  would  immediately  calculate,"  said  Amelia, 
"that  he  could  build  an  entire  street  with  this  diadem, 
and  that  at  least  ten  giants  could  be  purchased  for  the 
Guard  with  this  necklace."  She  turned  to  her  sister, 
who  had  withdrawn,  and  said: 

"Ulrica,  you  say  nothing.  Has  the  splendor  of  our 
mother  bewildered  you?  Have  you  lost  your  speech,  or 
are  you  thinking  whom  you  will  command  to  dance  with 
you  at  the  ball  this  evening  ?  " 

"Not  so,"  replied  the  little  Ulrica,  "I  was  thinking 
that  when  I  am  to  be  a  queen,  I  will  make  it  a  condition 
with  my  husband  that  I  shall  be  entirely  free  to  choose 
my  toilet,  and  I  will  never  be  forbidden  to  wear  dia- 
monds !  When  I  am  a  queen  I  will  wear  diamonds  every 
day;  they  belong  to  majesty,  and  our  royal  mother  was 
never  more  a  queen  than  to-day !  " 

"Listen,"  said  Amelia,  "to  this  proud  and  all-con- 
quering little  princess,  who  speaks  of  being  a  queen,  as  if 
it  were  all  arranged,  and  not  a  doubt  remained;  know 
you  that  the  king,  our  father,  intends  you  for  a  queen? 
Perhaps  he  has  already  selected  you  for  a  little  margrave, 
or  some  unknown  and  salaried  prince,  such  as  our  poor 
sister  of  Bairout  has  wedded." 

"  I  would  not  give  my  hand  to  such  a  one !  "  said  the 
princess,  hastily. 

"You  would  be  forced  to  yield,  if  your  father  com- 
manded it,"  said  the  queen. 

"  No,"  said  Ulrica,  "  I  would  rather  die !  " 

"Die!"  said  Sophia;  "man  sighs  often  for  Death, 
but  he  comes  not;  our  sighs  have  not  the  power  to  bring 
him,  and  our  hands  are  too  weak  to  clasp  him  to  our 
hearts!  No,  Ulrica,  you  must  bow  your  will  to  your 
father,  as  we  have  all  done— as  even  the  prince,  your 
brother,  was  forced  to  do." 


6  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

"  Poor  brother,"  said  Amelia,  "  bound  to  a  wife  whom 
he  loves  not — how  wretched  he  must  be !  " 

Ulrica  shrugged  her  shoulders.  "  Is  not  that  the  fate 
of  all  princes  and  princesses;  are  we  not  all  born  to 
be  handled  like  a  piece  of  goods,  and  knocked  down  to 
the  highest  bidder?  I,  for  my  part,  will  sell  myself  as 
dearly  as  possible;  and,  as  I  cannot  be  a  happy  shep- 
herdess, I  will  be  a  powerful  queen." 

"  And  I,"  said  Amelia,  "  would  rather  wed  the  poorest 
and  most  obscure  man,  if  I  loved  him,  than  the  richest 
and  greatest  king's  son,  to  whom  I  was  indifferent." 

"  Foolish  children,"  said  the  queen,  "  it  is  well  for 
you  that  your  father  does  not  hear  you;  he  would  crush 
you  in  his  rage,  and  even  to-day  he  would  choose  a  king 
for  you,  Amelia ;  and  for  you,  little  Ulrica,  he  would  seek 
a  small  margrave !  Hark,  ladies !  I  hear  the  voice  of  the 
major  domo;  he  comes  to  announce  that  the  guests  are 
assembled.  Put  on  a  cheerful  countenance.  The  king 
commands  us  to  be  joyous  and  merry!  but  remember  that 
Frederick  has  his  spies  everywhere.  When  you  speak 
with  Pöllnitz,  never  forget  that  he  repeats  every  word  to 
your  father;  be  friendly  with  him ;_^ and  above  all  things 
when  he  leads  the  conversation  to  the  prince  royal,  speak 
of  him  with  the  most  unembarrassed  indifference;  show 
as  little  interest  and  love  for  him  as  possible,  and  rather 
ridicule  his  romantic  life  in  Rheinsberg.  That  is  the 
way  to  the  heart  of  the  king;  and  now,  my  daughters, 
come." 

At  this  moment  the  grand  chamberlain,  Pöllnitz, 
threw  open  the  doors  and  announced  that  the  company 
was  assembled.  The  queen  and  princesses  followed  the 
master  of  ceremonies  through  the  room,  giving  here  and 
there  a  smile  or  a  gracious  word,  which  seemed  a  shower 
of  gold  to  the  obsequious,  admiring  crowd  of  courtiers. 
Pride  swelled  the  heart  of  Sophia,  as  she  stepped,  to  the 
sound  of  soft  music,  into  the  throne  saloon,  and  saw  all 


AND  HIS  COURT.  7 

those  cavaliers,  covered  with  stars  and  orders— all  those 
beautiful  and  richly-dressed  women  bowing  humbly  be- 
fore her.  She  knew  that  her  will  was  more  powerful  than 
the  will  of  all  assembled  there;  that  her  smiles  were 
more  dearly  prized  than  those  of  the  most-beloved  bride; 
that  her  glance  gave  warmth  and  gladness  like  the  sun. 
While  all  bowed  before  her,  there  was  no  one  to  whom 
she  must  bend  the  knee.  The  king  was  not  near  to- 
night; she  was  not  bound  by  his  presence  and  his  rude 
violence.  To-night  she  was  no  trembling,  subjected  wife, 
but  a  proud  queen;  while  Frederick  was  a  poor,  gouty, 
trembling,  teeth-gnashing  man— nothing  more. 


CHAPTEE   II. 

FREDERICK  WILLIAM  I. 

Mirth  and  gayety  reigned  in  one  wing  of  the  palace, 
while  in  the  other,  and  that  occupied  by  the  king  him- 
self, all  was  silent  and  solitary;  in  one  might  be  heard 
joyous  strains  of  music,  in  the  other  no  sound  reached 
the  air  but  a  monotonous  hammering,  which  seemed  to 
come  immediately  from  the  room  of  the  king. 

Frederick  William,  when  in  health,  had  accustomed 
himself  to  use  his  crutch  as  a  rod  of  correction ;  he  would 
shower  down  his  blows,  careless  whether  they  fell  on  the 
backs  of  his  lacqueys,  his  ministers  of  State,  or  his  wife. 
When  ill,  he  was  contented  to  vent  his  wrath  upon  more 
senseless  objects,  and  to  flourish  a  hammer  instead  of  his 
crutch.  Under  the  influence  of  the  gout,  this  proud  and 
haughty  monarch  became  an  humble  carpenter;  when 
chained  to  one  spot  by  his  disease,  and  unable  to  direct 
the  affairs  of  State,  he  attempted  to  banish  thought  and 


8  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

suffering,  by  working  with  his  tools.  Often  in  passing 
near  the  palace  at  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  you  might 
hear  the  heavy  blows  of  a  hammer,  and  consider  them  a 
bulletin  of  the  king's  health.  If  he  worked  at  night,  tha 
good  people  of  Berlin  knew  their  king  to  be  sleepless  and 
suffering,  and  that  it  would  be  dangerous  to  meet  him  in 
his  walk  on  the  following  day,  for  some  thoughtless  word, 
or  careless  look,  or  even  the  cut  of  a  coat,  would  bring 
down  on  the  offender  a  stinging  blow  or  a  severe  repri- 
mand. Only  a  few  days  had  passed  since  the  king  had 
caused  the  arrest  of  two  young  ladies,  and  sent  them  to  the 
fortress  of  Spandau,  because,  in  walking  through  the  park 
at  Schönhausen,  he  overheard  them  declare  the  royal  gar- 
den to  be  "  charmant !  charmant !  "  One  French  word  was 
sufficient  to  condemn  these  young  girls  in  the  eyes  of  the 
king;  and  it  was  only  after  long  pleading  that  they  were 
released  from  confinement.  The  men  were  fearful  of 
being  seized  by  the  king,  and  held  as  recruits  for  some 
regiment;  and  the  youths  trembled  if  they  were  caught 
lounging  about  the  streets.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  the 
king  left  the  proud  castle  of  his  ancestors,  all  who  could 
fled  from  the  streets  into  some  house  or  by-way,  that  they 
might  avoid  him. 

But  now  they  had  nothing  to  fear.  His  queen  dared 
to  wear  her  jewels;  his  subjects  walked  unmolested 
through  the  streets,  for  the  king  was  suffering,  chained 
to  his  chair,  and  occupying  himself  with  his  tools.  This 
employment  had  a  beneficial  effect :  it  not  only  caused  the 
king  to  forget  his  sufferings,  but  was  often  the  means  of 
relief.  The  constant  and  rapid  motion  of  his  hands 
and  arms  imparted  a  salutary  warmth  to  his  whole  body, 
excited  a  gentle  perspiration,  which  quieted  his  nervous 
system,  and  soothed  him  in  some  of  his  most  fearful 
attacks. 

To-day  the  king  was  once  more  freed  from  his  enemy, 
the  gout;  this  evil  spirit  had  been  exorcised  by  honest 


AND  HIS  COURT.  9 

labor,    and   its   victim   could   hope   for   a   few   painless 
hours. 

The  king  raised  himself  from  his  chair,  and  with  a 
loud  cry  of  delight  extended  his  arms,  as  if  he  would 
gladly  embrace  the  universe.  He  conmianded  the  ser- 
vant, who  was  waiting  in  the  adjoining  room,  to  call 
together  the  gentlemen  who  composed  the  Tobacco  Club, 
and  to  arrange  every  thing  for  a  meeting  of  that  august 
body. 

"But  those  gentlemen  are  at  the  queen's  ball,"  said 
the  astonished  servant. 

"Go  there  for  them,  then,"  said  the  king;  "happily 
there  are  no  dancers  among  them;  their  limbs  are  stiff, 
and  the  ladies  would  be  alarmed  at  their  capers  if  they  at- 
tempted to  dance.  Bring  them  quickly.  PöUnitz  must 
come,  and  Eckert,  and  Baron  von  Goltz,  and  Hacke,  the 
Duke  of  Holstein,  and  General  Schwerin.  Quick,  quick  1 
In  ten  minutes  they  must  all  be  here,  but  let  no  one  know 
why  he  is  sent  for.  Whisper  to  each  one  that  he  must 
come  to  me,  and  that  he  must  tell  no  one  where  he  is 
going.  I  will  not  have  the  queen's  ball  disturbed. 
Quick,  now,  and  if  these  gentlemen  are  not  all  here  in 
ten  minutes,  I  will  give  a  ball  upon  your  back,  and  your 
Dwn  howls  will  be  the  most  appropriate  music." 

This  was  a  threat  which  lent  wings  to  the  feet  of  the 
servant,  who  flew  like  a  whirlwind  through  the  halls,  or- 
dered, with  breathless  haste,  t-^o  servants  to  carry  the  to- 
bacco, the  pipes,  and  the  beer-mugs  into  the  king's  cham- 
ber, and  then  hurried  to  the  other  wing  of  the  palace, 
where  the  ball  of  the  queen  was  held. 

Fortune  favored  the  poor  servant.  In  ten  minutes 
the  six  gentlemen  stood  in  the  king's  ante-room,  asking 
each  other,  with  pale  faces,  what  could  be  the  occasion  of 
this  singular  and  unexpected  simimons. 

The  servant  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  silently  en- 
tered the  king's  room.    His  majesty,  dressed  in  the  full 


10  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

uniform  of  his  beloved  Guard,  sat  at  the  round  table, 
on  which  the  pipes,  and  the  mugs,  filled  with  foaming 
beer,  were  already  placed.  He  had  condescended  to  fill 
a  pipe  with  his  own  hands,  and  was  on  the  point  of  light- 
ing it  at  the  smoking  tallow  candle  which  stood  near 
him. 

"  Sire,"  said  the  servant,  "  the  gentlemen  are  waiting 
in  the  next  room." 

"  Do  they  know  why  I  have  sent  for  them  ? "  said  the 
king,  blowing  a  cloud  of  smoke  from  his  mouth. 

"Your  majesty  forbade, me  to  tell  them." 

"Well,  go  now,  and  tell  them  I  am  more  furiously 
angry  to-day  than  you  have  ever  seen  me;  that  I  am 
standing  by  the  door  with  my  crutch,  and  I  command 
them  to  come  singly  into  my  presence." 

The  servant  hurried  out  to  the  gentlemen,  who,  as 
the  door  was  opened,  perceived  the  king  standing  in  a 
threatening  attitude  near  the  door,  with  his  crutch  raised 
in  his  hand. 

"What  is  the  matter?  Why  is  the  king  so  furious? 
What  orders  do  you  bring  us  from  his  majesty?"  asked 
the  gentlemen  anxiously  and  hurriedly. 

The  servant  assumed  a  terrified  expression,  and  said : 

"His  majesty  is  outrageous  to-day.  Woe  imto  him 
over  whom  the  cloud  bursts.  He  commanded  me  to  say 
that  each  of  you  must  enter  the  room  alone.  Go  now, 
for  Heaven's  sake,  and  do  not  keep  the  king  waiting !  " 

The  gentlemen  glanced  into  each  other's  pale  and  hesi- 
tating countenances.  They  had  all  seen  the  threatening 
appearance  of  the  king,  as  he  stood  by  the  door  with  his 
raised  crutch,  and  no  one  wished  to  be  the  first  to  pass 
under  the  yoke. 

"Your  grace  has  the  precedence,"  said  the  grand 
chamberlain,  bowing  to  the  Duke  of  Holstein. 

"  No,"  he  replied,  "  you  are  well  aware  his  majesty 
does  not  regard  etiquette,  and  would  be  most  indignant 


AND  HIS  COURT.  11 

if  we  paid  any  attention  to  it.     Go  first  yourself,  my  dear 

friend." 

"  Not  I,  your  grace,  I  would  not  dare  to  take  prece- 
dence of  you  all.  If  you  decline  the  honor,  it  is  due  to 
General  Schwerin.    He  should  lead  on  the  battle." 

"There  is  no  question  of  a  battle,"  said  General 
Schwerin,  "  but  a  most  probable  beating,  and  Baron  von 
PöUnitz  understands  that  better  than  I  do." 

"  Gentlemen,"  said  the  servant,  "  his  majesty  will  be- 
come impatient,  and  then  woe  unto  all  of  us." 

«  But,  my  God,"  said  Count  von  Goltz,  "  who  will  dare 

go  forward  ? " 

"I  will,"  said  Councillor  Eckert;  "I  owe  every  thing 
to  his  majesty,  therefore  I  will  place  my  back  or  even 
my  life  at  his  service." 

He  approached  the  door  with  a  firm  step,  and  opened 

it  quickly.  ,    ,      ,  •  i. 

The  others  saw  the  flashing  eyes  of  the  king,  as  he 
raised  his  stick  still  higher.  They  saw  Eckert  enter, 
with  his  head  bowed  down  and  then  the  door  was  closed, 
and  nothing  more  was  heard. 

«  Against  which  of  us  is  the  anger  of  the  king  di- 
rected ?"  faltered  Pöllnitz. 

"  Against  one  and  all,"  said  the  servant,  with  a  most 
malicious  expression. 

«  Who  will  go  now? "  the  gentlemen  asked  each  other, 
and,  after  a  long  struggle,  the  grand  chamberlain,  Von 
Pöllnitz,  concluded  to  take  the  bitter  step.  Once  more, 
as  the  door  opened,  the  king  was  seen  waiting,  crutch  in 
hand  but  the  door  closed,  and  nothing  more  was  seen. 
Four  times  was  this  scene  repeated;  four  times  was  the 
king  seen  in  this  threatening  attitude.  But  as  General 
Schwerin,  the  last  of  the  six  gentlemen,  entered  the  room, 
the  king  no  longer  stood  near  the  door,  but  lay  m  his  arm- 
chair, laughing  until  the  tears  stood  in  his  eyes,  and 
Baron  von  Pöllnitz   stood   before   him,   giving   a   most 


12  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

humorous  account  of  the  scene  which  had  just  taken 
place  in  the  ante-room,  imitating  the  voices  of  the  differ- 
ent gentlemen,  and  relating  their  conversation. 

"  You  all  believed  in  my  rage,"  said  the  king,  almost 
breathless  with  laughing,  "  The  joke  succeeded  to  per- 
fection. Yours,  also,  Schwerin.  Do  you  at  last  know 
what  it  is  to  be  afraid,  you  who  never  experienced  the 
feeling  on  the  field  of  battle  ? " 

"  Yes,  sire,  a  shot  is  a  small  thing  in  comparison  with 
the  flashing  of  your  eye.  When  the  cannon  thunders  my 
heart  is  joyful,  but  it  is  very  heavy  under  the  thunder 
of  your  voice.  I  do  not  fear  death,  but  I  do  fear  the 
anger  and  displeasure  of  my  sovereign." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  brave  fellow,"  said  the  king,  warmly 
giving  the  general  his  hand.  "  And  now,  gentlemen, 
away  with  all  constraint  and  etiquette.  We  will  suppose 
the  king  to  be  at  the  ball.  I  am  only  your  companion, 
Frederick  William,  and  will  now  proceed  to  the  opening 
of  the  Tobacco  Club." 

He  once  more  lighted  his  pipe,  and  threw  himself  into 
one  of  the  chairs,  which  were  placed  round  the  table ;  the 
other  gentlemen  followed  his  example,  and  the  Tobacco 
Club  was  now  in  session. 


CHAPTEE   III. 

THE   TOBACCO   CLUB. 

There  was  a  short  interval  of  silence.  Each  one 
busied  himself  with  pipe  and  tobacco.  The  dense  clouds 
of  smoke  which  rolled  from  the  lips  of  all  had  soon  en- 
veloped the  room  with  a  veil  of  bluish  vapor,  from  the 
midst  of  which  the  tallow  candle  emitted  a  faint,  sickly 
light. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  13 

The  king  ordered  the  man  in  waiting  to  light  several 
additional  candles.  "To-day  our  Tobacco  Club  must 
also  present  a  festive  appearance,  that  the  contrast  be- 
tween it  and  the  ball  may  not  be  too  great.  Tell  me, 
Pöllnitz,  how  are  matters  progressing  over  there?  Is  the 
assemblage  a  handsome  one?  Are  they  enjoying  them- 
selves? Is  the  queen  gay?  and  the  princesses,  are  they 
dancing  merrily  ? " 

"  Sire,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "  a  more  magnificent  festival 
than  to-day's  I  have  never  witnessed.  Her  majesty  was 
never  more  beautiful,  more  radiant,  or  gayer  than  to- 
day. She  shone  like  a  sun  in  the  midst  of  the  handsome- 
ly dressed  and  adorned  ladies  of  the  court." 

"Indeed!  she  was  then  magnificently  attired?"  said 
the  king,  and  his  countenance  darkened. 

"  Sire,  I  had  no  idea  the  queen  possessed  so  princely  a 
treasure  in  jewels." 

"  She  has  put  on  her  jewels,  then,  has  she?  It  seems 
they  are  taking  advantage  of  my  absence.  They  ,are 
merry  and  of  good  cheer,  while  I  am  writhing  on  a  bed 
of  pain,"  exclaimed  the  king,  who,  in  his  easily  excited 
irritability,  never  once  remembered  that  he  himself  had 
appointed  this  festival,  and  had  demanded  of  his  wife 
that  she  should  lay  aside  care,  and  be  cheerful  and  happy. 
"Happily,  however,  your  majesty  is  not  ill,  and  not 
on  a  bed  of  pain.  The  queen  has,  therefore,  good  reason 
to  be  happy." 

The  king  made  no  reply,  but  raised  his  mug  to  his 
lips,  and  took  a  long  draught  of  beer,  and  let  fall  its  lid 
with  an  angry  movement. 

"  I  should  not  be  surprised  if  Frederick  had  clandes- 
tinely come  over  to  this  ball,"  murmured  the  king. 
"  They  dare  any  thing  when  not  apprehensive  of  my  tak- 
ing them  by  surprise." 

"  But  taking  by  surprise  is  your  majesty's  forie,^^  ex- 
claimed Count  Hacke,  endeavoring  to  give  the  conversa- 


14  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

tion  another  direction.  "  Never  before  in  my  life  did 
I  feel  my  heart  beat  as  it  did  when  I  crossed  the  threshold 
of  this  chamber  to-day." 

The  king,  who  was  easily  soothed,  laughed  heartily. 
"And  never  before  did  I  see  such  pale  faces  as  yours. 
Really,  if  the  gout  had  not  made  my  fingers  so  stiff  and 
unwieldy,  I  would  paint  you  a  picture  of  this  scene  that 
would  make  a  magnificent  counterpart  to  my  representa- 
tion of  the  Tobacco  Club,  and  I  would  call  it  '  The  Six 
Tailor  Apprentices  who  are  afraid  of  Blue  Monday.' 
See!  we  will  now  devote  ourselves  to  poetry  and  the  arts, 
and  our  learned  and  fantastic  son  will  soon  have  no  ad- 
vantage over  us  whatever.  If  he  plays  the  flute,  we  paint. 
While  he  writes  sentimental, we  will  write  satirical  poems; 
and  while  he  sings  to  sun,  moon,  and  stars,  we  will  do  as 
the  gods,  and,  like  Jupiter,  envelop  ourselves  in  a  cloud. 
Let  it  be  well  understood,  however,  not  for  the  purpose  of 
deluding  a  Semele  or  any  other  woman,  at  all  times,  and  in 
all  circumstances,  we  have  been  true  to  our  wives,  and  in 
this  particular  the  prince  royal  might  well  take  his 
father  as  an  example." 

"  Sire,  he  could  do  that  in  all  things,"  exclaimed 
Count  von  Goltz,  blowing  a  cloud  of  smoke  from  his  lips. 

"  He  thinks  at  some  future  day  to  govern  the  kingdom 
with  his  book-learning  and  his  poems,"  said  the  king, 
laughing.  "  Instead  of  occupying  himself  with  useful 
things,  drilling  recruits,  drawing  plans,  and  studying  the 
art  of  war,  he  devotes  his  time  to  the  acquirement  of  use- 
less and  superficial  knowledge,  which  benefits  no  one, 
and  is  most  injurious  to  himself.  A  dreaming  scholar 
can  never  be  a  good  king;  and  he  who,  instead  of  sword 
and  sceptre,  wields  the  pen  and  fiddle-bow,  will  never  be 
a  good  general." 

"  !N"evertheless,  no  regiment  made  a  finer  appearance, 
or  was  better  drilled,  at  the  last  review,  than  that  of  the 
prince  royal,"  said  the  Duke  of  Holstein. 


AND   HIS  COURT.  X5 

The  king  cast  a  distrustful  look  at  him,  and  muttered 
a  few  words  which  no  one  understood.  He  was  never 
pleased  to  hear  any  defence  of  the  prince  royal,  and  sus- 
pected every  one  who  praised  him. 

"  Your  majesty  forgets  that  this  is  a  sitting  of  the 
Tobacco  Club  and  not  of  the  State  Council,"  said  Pöll- 
nitz,  in  a  fawning  voice.  "  If  your  majesty  designed  to 
be  angry,  it  was  not  ^necessary  to  light  the  pipes  and  fill 
the  beer-mugs;  for  while  you  are  neither  smoking  nor 
drinking,  the  pipe  goes  out,  and  the  beer  becomes  stale," 

"  True,"  replied  the  king,  and  raising  his  glass  he 
continued :  "  I  drink  this  to  the  health  of  him  who  first 
overcame  his  timid  heart  and  dared  to  enter  my  chamber. 
Who  was  it?     I  have  forgotten." 

"  It  was  the  privy  councillor  Von  Eckert,  sire,"  said 
Count  Hacke,  with  an  ironical  smile.     Eckert  bowed. 

"  He  entered  the  chamber  as  if  going  to  battle,"  ex- 
claimed Von  Pöllnitz,  laughing.  "  In  the  spirit  he  took 
leave  of  all  the  fine  breweries,  and  artfully  constructed 
never-smoking  chimneys  which  he  had  built;  he  also  took 
leave  of  the  city  exchanges,  which  he  had  not  yet  pro- 
vided with  royal  commissioners,  destined  to  despoil  them 
of  their  riches;  he  bade  adieu  to  his  decoration  and  to 
his  money-bags,  and  exclaiming,  *  To  the  king  I  owe  all 
that  I  am,  it  is  therefore  but  proper  that  my  back  as  well 
as  my  life  should  be  at  his  service,'  marched  courageously 
into  the  royal  presence." 

"  Did  he  really  do  that  ?  Did  he  say  that  ? "  exclaimed 
the  king.  "  Eckert,  I  am  pleased  with  you  for  that,  and 
will  reward  you.  It  is  true  that  I  have  elevated  you 
from  a  lowly  position;  that  I  have  made  a  gentleman  of 
the  chimney-sweep;  but  gratitude  is  a  rare  virtue,  men 
seldom  remember  the  benefits  they  have  received;  your 
doing  so,  is  an  evidence  that  you  have  a  noble  heart,  one 
which  I  know  how  to  appreciate.  The  new  house  which  I 
am  building  in  Jager  Street  shall  be  yours;    and  I  will 


16  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

not  present  you  with  the  naked  walls,  but  it  shall  be  hand- 
somely furnished  and  fitted  up  at  my  expense." 

"  Your  majesty  is  the  most  gracious,  the  best  of  mon- 
archs ! "  exclaimed  Eckert,  hastening  to  the  king  and 
pressing  his  hand  to  his  lips.  "  Yes,  your  majesty  is 
right  in  saying  that  you  have  elevated  me  from  the  dust, 
but  my  heart,  at  least,  was  always  pure,  and  I  will  en- 
deavor to  preserve  it  so.  You  have  rescued  me  from  the 
scum  of  the  people.  As  the  ancient  Romans  gave  free- 
dom to  those  slaves  who  had  rendered  themselves  worthy 
of  it  by  good  and  noble  deeds,  so  has  my  king  also  deliv- 
ered me  from  the  bondage  of  poverty  and  lowliness,  and 
given  me  freedom,  and  I  also  will  strive  to  render  myself 
worthy  of  this  great  boon  by  good  and  noble  actions." 

"  And  Berlin  offers  you  the  best  opportunities  of  do- 
ing so.  There  are  still  many  smoking  chimneys  and  in- 
different beer  breweries.  Privy  Councillor  Von  Eckert 
can,  therefore,  still  execute  many  glorious  deeds  before 
he  is  gathered  to  his  forefathers,"  exclaimed  Von  Pöll- 
nitz. 

All  were  amused  at  this,  and  the  king  himself  could 
not  refrain  from  smiling.  Von  Eckert's  countenance  had 
become  pale  and  lowering,  and  casting  an  angry  look  at 
Von  Pöllnitz,  he  said,  with  a  forced  laugh : 

"  Really,  your  wit  to-day  is  dazzling,  and  I  am  so 
charmed  with  your  pleasantries,  that  should  your  wine 
merchant  refuse  to  supply  you  with  any  more  wine  tmtil 
your  old  accounts  have  been  settled,  I  shall  be  perfectly 
willing  to  send  you  a  few  bottles  from  my  own  cellar,  that 
your  Grace  may  be  able  to  drink  my  health." 

"  That  I  will  gladly  do,"  said  Pöllnitz,  affably.  "  Yes, 
I  will  drink  to  yotir  long  and  lasting  health,  for  the  longer 
you  live  the  more  time  your  ancestors  will  have  to  in- 
crease and  to  multiply  themselves.  And,  as  it  seems  that 
you  are  not  destined  to  become  the  father  of  a  coming 
generation,  you  should,  at  least,  endeavor  to  become  the 


AND  HIS  COURT.  1^ 

progenitor  of  your  ancestors  and  the  father  of  your  fa- 
thers. Ancestors  are  born  to  you  as  children  are  to  others, 
and,  if  I  am  not  mistaken,  you  are  already  the  possessor 
of  three.  For  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  quality,  this  is, 
however,  too  few.  I  will,  therefore,  drink  to  your  health, 
that  you  may  still  be  able  to  create  many  ancestors.  And 
I  propose  to  your  majesty  to  give  him  an  ancestor  for 
every  chimney  which  he  frees  from  smoke." 

"  Silence,  Pöllnitz !  "  exclaimed  the  king,  laughing. 
"  No  more  of  this  raillery.  Listen  to  what  I  have  to  say. 
I  have  given  Eckert  the  new  house,  and  as  I  have  in- 
vested him  with  a  title  of  nobility,  it  is  but  proper  that 
a  noble  coat-of-arms  should  be  placed  over  his  door.  Gen- 
tlemen, let  us  consider  what  the  escutcheon  of  Eckert 
shall  be.  Each  of  you,  in  his  turn,  shall  give  me  his 
opinion.     You,  duke,  commence." 

With  grave  and  sober  mien  the  gentlemen  began  to 
confer  with  each  other  in  regard  to  Von  Eckert's  escutch- 
eon; and  each  one  considering  the  favor  in  which  the 
former  stood  with  the  king,  took  pains  to  propose  the 
most  magnificent  coat-of-arms  imaginable.  But  the  king 
was  not  pleased  with  the  grave  and  learned  devices  which 
were  proposed.  He  disliked  giving  the  newly-made  baron 
a  coat-of-arms  worthy  of  any  house  of  old  and  established 
nobility,  which  would  have  placed  him  on  an  equality 
with  the  oldest  counts  and  barons  of  the  kingdom. 

"  When  I  build  a  house,"  said  the  king,  "  I  wish  every 
one  to  see  that  it  is  a  new  one;  I  therefore  give  it  a  nice 
white  coat  of  paint,  and  not  an  old  graystone  color  to 
make  it  look  like  a  robber  castle.  Eckert  should,  there- 
fore, have  a  fresh  touch  of  paint  for  his  new  dignity,  a 
spick  and  span  new  coat-of-arms." 

"  I  am  entirely  of  your  majesty's  opinion,"  exclaimed 
Von  Pöllnitz  solemnly ;  "  and  as  every  noble  family 
bears  on  its  coat-of-arms  some  emblem  and  reminis- 
cence of  the  deeds  and  events  through  which  it  became 


18  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

great,  so  should  also  the  escutcheon  of  the  noble  house 
of  Eckert  contain  some  such  reminiscence.  I  propose  to 
quarter  this  shield.  The  first  field  shall  show  on  a  silver 
ground  a  black  chimney,  in  which  we  will  also  have  in- 
dicated the  Prussian  colors.  The  second  field  is  blue, 
with  a  golden  vat  in  the  centre,  having  reference  to  Eck- 
ert's  great  ability  as  a  beer-brewer.  The  third  field  ia 
green,  with  a  golden  pheasant  in  the  middle,  suggestive 
of  Eckert's  earlier  occupation  as  gamekeeper  in  Bruns- 
wick; and  the  fourth  field  shows  on  a  red  ground  a  cock 
and  a  knife,  a  reminiscence  of  the  good  old  times  when 
Privy  Councillor  Yon  Eckert  fed  and  dressed  fowls  in 
Bairout." 

A  peal  of  laughter  from  the  entire  club  rewarded  Von 
Pöllnitz  for  his  proposition.  The  king  was  also  so  well 
pleased,  that  he,  in  all  gravity,  determined  to  accept  it, 
and  to  have  a  coat-of-arms  with  the  above  designated 
emblems  adjusted  over  the  door  of  the  new  house  in 
Jager  Street. 

The  merriment  of  the  gentlemen  of  the  Tobacco  Club 
was  now  becoming  energetic,  and  jests  and  jokes  were 
contributed  by  all.  The  grand  chamberlain.  Von  Pöll- 
nitz, was,  however,  the  gayest  of  the  gay.  And  if  the 
pleasantries  which  bubbled  from  his  lips  like  water  from 
a  fountain,  at  any  time  threatened  to  flag,  a  glance  at  the 
pale  face  of  Von  Eckert,  who  fairly  trembled  with  sup- 
pressed rage,  was  sufficient  to  renew  his  merriment. 

While  the  king  was  conversing  with  Von  Eckert  on 
the  subject  of  his  new  house,  Pöllnitz  turned  to  his  neigh- 
bor and  asked  if  he  had  not  made  ample  amends  for  his 
awkwardness  in  the  first  instance. 

"  By  my  thoughtless  repetition  of  that  hypocritical 
man's  words,  I  procured  him  the  new  house,  but  I  have 
also  given  him  a  coat-of-arms;  and  I  wager  the  privy 
councillor  would  willingly  relinquish  the  former,  if  he 
could  thereby  get  rid  of  the  latter." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  19 

"Pöllnitz,  why  are  you  looking  so  grave"  asked  the 
king  at  this  moment.  "  I  wager  you  are  in  a  bad  humor, 
because  the  handsome  house  in  Jager  Street  was  not 
given  to  you." 

"By  no  means,  your  majesty;  as  handsome  as  the 
house  is,  it  would  not  suit  me  at  all." 

"Ah,  yes,  you  are  right;  it  would  be  much  too  large 
a  one  for  you !  "  said  Frederick  William,  laughing. 

"  No,  your  majesty,  it  would  be  much  too  small  for 
me.  When  a  cavalier  of  my  quality  once  determines  to 
build  a  house,  it  should  be  arranged  in  accordance  with 
his  rank  and  standing,  and  that  costs  a  great  deal  of 
money,  much  more  than  I  ever  possessed.  It  is  true  that 
my  father  left  me  a  fortune  of  about  two  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars,  but  what  is  such  a  trifle  to  a  nobleman? 
It  was  not  enough  for  a  decent  support,  and  it  was  too 
much  to  go  begging  on.  I  calculated  how  long  this  sum 
might  be  made  to  last,  and  finding  that,  with  considerable 
economy,  it  would  perhaps  do  for  four  years,  I  lived  like 
a  noble  and  generous  cavalier  for  that  time;  and  during 
that  period  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  have  the  most  de- 
voted friends  and  the  truest  sweethearts,  who  never  de- 
serted me  until  the  last  dollar  of  my  fortune  was  ex- 
pended !  " 

"  Do  I  understand  you  to  say  that  you  expended  two 
hundred  thousand  dollars  in  four  years  ?  "  asked  the  king. 

"Yes,  your  majesty;  and  I  assure  you  that  I  was 
obliged  to  practise  the  most  rigorous  economy." 

Frederick  William  regarded  him  with  surprise,  almost 
with  admiration.  To  the  king  there  was  something  in 
this  man's  nature  which  was  imposing.  It  was  perhaps 
the  great  contrast  between  the  unlimited  extravagance 
of  the  baron  and  his  own  frugality,  which  exerted  so 
great  an  influence  on  the  king,  excited  his  astonishment, 
and  enlisted  his  admiration  in  behalf  of  this  ready,  witty, 
and  ever-merry  courtier. 


20  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"An  income  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  is,  therefore, 
not  sufficient  for  a  decent  support  ? "  asked  the  king. 

"  Your  majesty,  if  one  attempted  to  live  in  a  style  be- 
fitting a  nobleman,  on  that  sum,  he  might  die  of  himger." 

"  Ah,  explain  that.  What  sum  would  you  consider 
necessary  to  enable  you  to  live  in  a  style  befitting  a  noble- 
man ? " 

Pöllnitz  remained  lost  in  thought  for  a  moment,  and 
then  replied: 

"  You  majesty,  in  order  to  live  somewhat  respectably, 
I  should  require  four  hundred  thousand  dollars  yearly." 

"  That  is  not  true,  not  possible !  "  exclaimed  the  king. 

"  That  is  so  very  possible,  sire,  that  I  hardly  know 
whether  it  would  suffice  or  not." 

"  Gentlemen,  do  you  believe  that  ? "  asked  the  king. 

"  I,  for  my  part,  have  not  the  fourth  part  of  this  in- 
come," said  the  Duke  of  Holstein,  smiling. 

"  I  not  the  tenth !  "  said  Count  Von  der  Goltz. 

"  And  I  not  the  twentieth !  "  exclaimed  General  Von 
Schwerin  and  Count  Hacke  at  the  same  time. 

"  And  yet,"  said  the  king,  "  you  all  live  as  respected 
cavaliers,  as  esteemed  gentlemen  of  my  court.  Let  us 
hear  how  Pöllnitz  would  manage  to  spend  so  much  money. 
Quick,  Jochen,  quick,  give  us  a  sheet  of  paper  and  a 
pencil." 

The  valet  hastily  executed  this  commission,  and  hand- 
ed the  king  paper  and  pencil. 

"  Fill  the  glasses,  Jochen,"  ordered  the  king,  "  and 
then  seat  yourself  at  the  foot  of  the  table,  and  pay  at- 
tention to  what  Von  Pöllnitz  is  about  to  explain.  It 
is  worth  the  trouble  to  learn  how  an  income  of  four 
hundred  thousand  dollars  can  be  spent  in  a  respectable 
manner.  You  shall  dictate,  and  I  will  be  your  secretary. 
Woe  to  you,  however,  if  you  do  not  keep  your  word,  if  you 
expend  less!  For  every  thousand  which  you  fail  to  ac- 
count for,  you  shall  drink  ten  glasses  of  beer,  and  smoke 


AND  HIS  COURT.  21 

a  pipe  of  the  strong  Havana  tobacco  recently  sent  me  by 
the  stadtholder  of  Holland." 

"  But  what  shall  I  receive  for  every  thousand  which  I 
expend  over  and  above  that  sum?"  asked  Von  Pöllnitz, 
laughing. 

"  Oh,  it  is  impossible  that  a  nobleman  should  need 
more,  that  is,  provided  he  does  not  expend  it  in  a  foolish 
manner,  like  a  madman." 

"  And  if,  in  order  to  live  in  a  style  befitting  a  noble- 
man, I  sould  nevertheless  need  more,  what  am  I  to  re- 
ceive for  every  thousand  ?  " 

"  Well,  then,  for  every  thousand,  I  will  pay  a  hundred 
of  your  oldest  debts,"  said  the  king.  "But  commence. 
And  you,  gentlemen,  drink  and  smoke,  and  pay  attention 
to  what  he  has  to  say." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

AIR-CASTLES. 

"  I  WILL  begin,"  said  Pöllnitz.  "  First  of  all,  I  shall 
need  a  respectable  house,  to  receive  my  guests  in,  to  ex- 
hibit my  collections,  and  entertain  my  friends;  to  pursue 
my  studies,  without  being  disturbed  by  the  slightest 
noise ;  a  house,  in  which  my  wife  must  have  her  separate 
apartments,  and  as  I  shall  wish  to  have  my  friends  with 
me,  every  now  and  then,  to  smoke,  my  wife's  reception- 
rooms  must  be  entirely  separated  from  mine." 

"  But,"  exclaimed  the  king,  "  your  wife  will  certainly 
allow  you  to  smoke  in  her  rooms ! " 

"  And  if  she  permitted  it,  your  majesty,  I  would  not 
do  so;  it  becomes  not  a  cavalier  to  smoke  in  a  lady'a 
room." 

MuHLBACH  2  Vol.  1 


22  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

The  king  reddened  a  little,  and  carried  the  mug  to 
his  lips,  to  hide  his  embarrassment;  he  remembered  how 
often  he  had  smoked  in  the  queen's  rooms,  notwithstand- 
ing her  sighs. 

Pöllnitz  continued  quietly:  "I  must  then  have  sev- 
eral different  reception-rooms,  and  as  my  wife  and  myself 
will  frequently  be  at  variance  with  each  other,  two  differ- 
ent and  widely-separated  staircases  will  be  necessary,  that 
we  may  not  meet,  unless  we  wish  it !  " 

"  Oh !  you  mean  to  lead  a  wretched  life  with  your 
wife ;  to  quarrel  with  her  every  now  and  then,  do  you  ? " 

"  No,  sire,  we  will  never  quarrel ;  it  ill  becomes  a 
cavalier  to  have  a  contest  with  his  wife." 

The  king  reddened  again,  this  time  from  anger.  This 
exposition  of  a  cavalier  began  to  offend  him;  it  seemed  to 
be  a  satire  upon  himself;  for  unhappily  the  king  not  only 
smoked  in  the  queen's  rooms,  but  the  world  knew  that 
his  wife  and  children  were  often  the  objects  of  his  violent 
temper,  and  that  the  queen  had  more  than  once  been  ter- 
ribly frightened  by  his  thundering  reproaches  and  un- 
bearable threats. 

"  Your  highness  sees  that  my  house  must  be  large,  and 
as  it  is  so,  a  host  of  servants  and  a  large  income  will  be 
necessary.  But  of  this  hereafter.  Let  us  speak  of  my 
houses,  for  it  is  easily  understood  that  I  must  have  a 
country  residence." 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  reasonable  demand,"  said  the  king,  in 
adding  the  country  house  to  his  list. 

"  But  as  I  do  not  go  to  the  country  to  live  as  I  do  in 
the  city,  but  to  enjoy  the  beauties  of  nature  and  scenery, 
I  must  have  a  garden,  with  vineyards,  and  beautiful 
walks,  and,  for  their  cultivation,  many  servants.  And, 
as  I  cannot  ask  my  friends  to  visit  me  simply  to  pluck 
my  flowers,  and  eat  my  fruits,  I  must  procure  for  them 
other  and  rarer  pleasures.  I  must  have  a  park  for  hunt- 
ing, and  a  lake  for  fishing." 


AND  HIS  COUET.  23 

"Yes,  that  is  well  argued  and  true,"  said  the  king, 
noting  the  park  and  the  lake  on  his  paper. 

"  Now  we  are  coming  to  the  most  important  points — 
the  kitchen  and  wine-cellar.  On  these  two  I  must 
bestow  most  particular  care.  It  would  be  most  un- 
worthy a  cavalier  to  present  such  dishes  to  his  friends 
as  they  can  enjoy  every  day  at  home.  No,  if  I  in- 
vite my  friends,  they  must  be  certain  of  having  such 
luxuries  as  they  cannot  procure  elsewhere — such  rare 
and  costly  viands  as  will  recall  the  wonders  of  fairy 
land!" 

"  I  am  quite  of  your  opinion,"  cried  the  king,  and  his 
face  brightened  at  the  thought  of  the  delightful  and 
costly  dishes  that  the  rich  Pöllnitz  would  set  before  his 
friends.  "Listen:  from  time  to  time  you  can  prepare 
for  me  the  delightful  bacon-pie  that  I  once  tasted  at 
Grumbkou's.  Oh,  that  was  really  splendid,  and  reminded 
one,  as  you  say,  of  the  wonders  of  fairy  land!  My  cook 
obtained  the  receipt  immediately;  but  what  do  you 
think?  three  bottles  of  champagne  and  three  bottles  of 
burgundy  were  necessary  to  stew  the  meat.  I  had  to  give 
up  the  intention  of  having  such  a  pie,  but  I  told  Grumb- 
kou  that  when  I  felt  like  eating  such  an  expensive  dish, 
I  would  be  his  guest." 

"  I  will  obey  your  commands,  your  highness,"  said 
Pöllnitz,  earnestly,  and  bowing  low  to  the  king.  "  Let  us 
continue  to  furnish  my  house;  after  that  we  will  speak 
of  the  pie.  As  hunting  is  decided  upon,  we  must  now 
consider  the  horses,  for  I  cannot  ask  my  friends  to  hunt 
on  foot,  or  walk  to  the  lake.  I  must  have  beautiful  and 
noble  steeds,  and  as  horses  and  carriages  do  not  take  care 
of  themselves,  I  must  have  a  number  of  servants  to  at- 
tend to  them." 

"That  is  true,"  said  the  king,  adding  the  carriages 
and  horses  to  his  list.  "  That  is  true ;  but  I  find  that  you 
think  a  great  deal  of  your  friends  and  very  little  of  your- 


24  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

self.  Your  whole  demand,  so  far,  is  for  the  benefit  of 
your  friends." 

"  Sire,  hospitality  is  one  of  the  noblest  virtues  of  a 
cavalier,  for  which  one  can  never  do  too  much,  but  easily 
too  little." 

The  king  frowned  and  looked  threateningly  before 
him;  the  rest  of  the  club  looked  at  Pöllnitz  with  in- 
creasing astonishment,  surprised  at  his  daring  to  show 
the  king  in  this  manner  his  faults  and  weaknesses. 

Pöllnitz  alone  remained  gay  and  unembarrassed. 
"  Now,  as  I  have  attended  sufficiently  to  the  pleasure  and 
comfort  of  my  friends,  it  is  time  that  I  should  think  a 
little  of  myself.  I  therefore  beg  your  highness  to  name 
the  sum  you  deem  necessary  for  my  yearly  expenses  for 
charities  and  presents  for  my  sweetheart." 

"  Your  wife  is  your  sweetheart.  You  intend  to  be  a 
very  tender  husband,  nowithstanding  the  two  staircases." 

"  Sire,  it  would  not  become  a  cavalier  to  possess  a 
wife  and  sweetheart  in  the  same  person.  Your  wife 
represents  your  family,  your  sweetheart  amuses  you.  You 
give  your  wife  name  and  rank,  your  sweetheart  your  love 
and  whole  heart.  A  true  cavalier  does  not  love  his  wife, 
but  he  demands  that  the  world  shall  honor  her  as  the  lady 
that  bears  his  name." 

"  Pöllnitz,  Pöllnitz,"  said  the  king,  shaking  his  hand 
threateningly  at  him,  "  take  care  that  I  never  see  your 
cavalier  in  my  house,  and  no  one  that  is  like  him;  I 
would  have  no  pity  with  him,  but  crush  him  with  my 
kingly  anger !  " 

Pöllnitz  was  frightened,  and  covered  himself  in  a 
cloud  of  smoke,  that  the  king  might  not  see  his  per- 
plexity. 

"  Continue,"  said  Frederick  William,  after  a  short 
pause.  "  I  have  set  aside  a  certain  amount  for  every 
single  article  you  have  mentioned,  but  I  truly  hope  you 
have  concluded;  and  that  the  demon  that  dwells  in  you. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  25 

and  masters  you,  will  make  no  further  suggestions  to 
your  luxurious  and  insane  fancies." 

"  Yes,  your  highness ;  and  I  beg  you  will  calculate  the 
sum  total  necessary  for  these  different  articles." 

The  king  calculated,  his  guests  smoked  and  drank  in 
silence,  and  Pöllnitz  listened  attentively  to  the  sound 
of  voices,  and  noise  of  horses  in  the  court. 

The  king  suddenly  uttered  an  oath,  and  brought  his 
fist  heavily  down  on  the  paper.  "  As  truly  as  God  lives, 
Pöllnitz  is  right!  Four  hundred  thousand  dollars  are 
not  sufficient  to  support  a  cavalier '  of  his  pretensions. 
The  sum  here  amounts  to  four  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand dollars." 

"  Your  highness  confesses  that  I  have  demanded  noth- 
ing superfluous  or  exaggerated?" 

"  Yes,  I  confess  it." 

"  Consequently,  your  highness  will  be  kind  enough  to 
pay  me  five  thousand  dollars." 

"  The  devil !     How  can  I  understand  that  ?  " 

"Your  majesty  forgets  that  you  promised  me  one 
hundred  dollars  for  every  thousand  over  and  above  the 
sum  of  four  hundred  thousand." 

"  Did  I  say  that  ? "  said  the  king ;  and  as  all  present 
confirmed  it,  he  laughed  aloud,  saying,  "  I  see  that  none 
of  you  understand  Pöllnitz.  That  was  not  my  meaning. 
I  did  not  say  I  would  pay  Pöllnitz  the  gold;  but  for 
every  thousand  above  his  four  hundred  thousand  I  would 
pay  a  hundred  of  his  oldest  debts,  and  that  is  quite  a 
different  affair.  You  know  well,  if  I  gave  him  the  gold, 
his  creditors  would  never  receive  a  cent  of  it.  But  what 
I  have  promised  I  will  do;  bring  me,  to-morrow,  a  list 
of  your  oldest  debts,  and  I  will  pay  five  thousand  dollars 
upon  them." 

"Your  highness,  my  account  is  not  yet  finished.  I 
have  only  mentioned  the  most  pressing  and  necessary 
articles,  and  much  has  been  forgotten.    I  must  have  a 


26  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

forester  to  chase  the  poachers  from  my  park,  and  a  night 
watch  to  guard  my  country  house,  to  feed  the  fish  in  my 
pond,  to  strike  upon  the  water  in  order  to  silence  the 
frogs,  that  my  sleep  and  that  of  my  friends  may  not  be 
disturbed." 

"  Enough,  enough  of  your  castles  in  the  air,  fool  that 
you  are ! "  cried  the  king,  half  angry,  half  amused. 
"  Seek  another  sovereign,  who  is  rich  enough  to  provide 
for  your  follies." 

"  Sire,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "  I  will  seek  nothing  elsewhere. 
I  am  too  happy  to  have  found  so  noble  and  gracious 
a  monarch.  I  only  wished  to  prove  to  your  majesty, 
and  these  gentlemen  that  do  me  the  honor  to  consider 
me  a  spendthrift,  that  a  great  fortune  can  be  easily  spent 
without  extravagance  and  folly,  and  you  will  now  under- 
stand that  I  have  given  a  worthy  proof  of  economy  in 
fixing  my  yearly  income  at  four  hundred  thousand  dol- 
lars, when  I  could  easily  dispose  of  that  sum  in  six 
months." 

The  king  laughed,  and,  raising  the  beer-pot  aloft, 
commanded  the  gentlemen  to  drink  to  the  health  of  the 
miser  Pöllnitz. 

The  beer-pots  were  raised,  and  were  jingling  merrily, 
when  suddenly  it  seemed  as  if  an  electric  shock  had 
struck  them  all  simultaneously — all  with  the  exception  of 
the  king.  The  six  cavaliers  placed  their  beer-pots  upon 
the  table,  and,  rising  with  breathless  haste  from  their 
chairs,  bowed  lowly  and  humbly. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  27 

CHAPTEK   V. 

FATHER  AND  SON. 

The  king,  in  speechless  amazement,  sank  back  in  his 
chair.  He  could  not  yet  conceive  what  spell  had  taken 
hold  of  these  gentlemen,  that  made  them  rise  from  their 
seats  in  spite  of  the  rules  of  the  Tobacco  Club.  The 
king  did  not  see  that,  behind  him,  the  door  had  opened, 
and,  in  the  midst  of  the  smoke  that  filled  the  whole  room, 
a  young  man  was  visible,  whose  appearance  had  produced 
this  astounding  impression  upon  the  six  cavaliers.  And, 
certainly,  there  was  something  exalted  and  imposing  in 
this  youth.  A  wondrous  combination  of  beauty,  nobility 
of  soul,  youth,  royalty,  and  melancholy  was  expressed  in 
this  face,  whose  sharp  and  marked  lines  spoke  of  severe 
pain  and  bitter  experience,  while  so  fresh  and  youthful 
a  smile  played  upon  the  soft  red  lip,  you  could  but  sup- 
pose the  heart  young,  confiding,  and  impressible.  But 
the  eyes  were  in  wonderful  contrast  to  these  beautiful 
lips;  they  shone  like  great,  mysterious,  unfathomable 
stars — one  moment  sparkling  with  youthful  supercilious- 
ness, the  next  with  the  firm,  steady,  piercing  glance  of 
an  observing  sage.  The  lofty,  somewhat  retreating  fore- 
head, and  the  straight,  finely-pointed  nose,  formed  a 
profile  indicating  commanding  elevation  of  character. 
And  the  soul  imprisoned  behind  these  temples  was  power- 
fully agitated,  seeking  ever  for  freedom  of  thought  and 
expression.  It  was  the  eye,  the  head  of  a  hero ;  and,  had 
his  form  corresponded  with  the  giant  strength  of  his 
glance,  he  would  have  been  a  Titan,  and  might  have 
crushed  the  world  like  a  toy  in  his  hand.  But  his  slen- 
der, symmetrical,  and  graceful  form  was  more  weak  than 
powerful,  more  maidenly  than  heroic. 

You  felt,  however,  that  this  head  might  lend  strength 


28  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

to  the  body,  and  if  the  Titan  could  not  overcome  by  physi- 
cal strength,  he  could  rule  and  conquer  by  the  command- 
ing power  of  his  genius.* 

This  was  the  unexpected  apparition  that  shocked  the 
gentlemen  of  the  Tobacco  Club,  and  forced  them  hastily 
from  their  seats !  The  king  sat  speechless  and  amazed  in 
his  chair,  while  the  youth  stood  close  behind  him. 

"  Allow  me  to  wish  your  majesty  good-evening,"  said 
the  prince,  with  his  full,  clear-ringing  voice. 

The  king  was  greatly  agitated,  and  the  blood  rushed 
to  his  face,  "  Fritz !  "  said  he,  in  a  light  tone.  "  Fritz !  " 
repeated  he  more  sternly,  and  already  the  sound  of  a 
coming  storm  was  perceptible  in  his  voice. 

"  I  come  from  Ruppin,"  said  the  prince,  in  a  quiet, 
kindly  voice,  "  where  I  was  reviewing  my  regiment,  and  I 
beg  pardon  for  my  unexpected  appearance." 

The  king  made  no  reply;  his  mistrust  was  scornfully 
exhibited.  He  thought  that  the  queen  believed  him  to 
be  suffering  and  confined  to  his  room.  He  did  not  doubt 
for  a  moment  that  she  had  sent  for  the  prince,  and  Fred- 
erick was  there  to  see  if  the  life  of  the  king  was  not  in 
danger;  if  the  throne  of  Prussia  would  not  soon  be 
empty,  and  ready  for  its  successor. 

These  dark  suspicions  excited  the  king's  ire,  and  filled 
his  heart  with  bitter  distrust.  With  a  hasty  movement 
he  dashed  back  the  hand  of  the  prince  royal,  and  arose 
from  his  chair.  His  scornful  eye  took  in  at  a  glance  the 
whole  circle,  still  standing  in  awe-struck  silence  around 
the  table. 

"  Why  have  you  arisen  from  your  chairs  ? "  cried  the 
king,  with  trembling  voice.  "  How  dare  you  arise  con- 
trary to  my  command,  and  thus  set  yourselves  in  opposi- 

*  A  French  traveller,  by  the  name  of  Birre,  who  went  from  Paris  to 
Berlin  to  see  Frederick,  describes  him  in  this  manner :  Buste  admirable 
et  vraiment  royal,  mais  pauvre  et  miserable  pedestal.  Sa  t^te  et  sa  poi- 
trine  sont  au  dessus  des  eloges,  le  train  d'en  bas  au  dessous  de  la  critique. 
— {See  ThiebauU.) 


AND  HIS  COURT.  29 

tion  to  my  kingly  power?  Do  you  no  longer  know  the 
laws  of  the  Tobacco  Club?  Do  you  not  know  that  these 
laws  positively  forbid  you  to  arise  from  your  seats  to 
greet  any  one?  You  are  all  silent,  miserable  cowards 
that  you  are,  who  do  not  attempt  to  defend  yourselves, 
who  go-always  with  wind  and  tide,  and  deceive  and  flatter 
in  every  direction.  Answer  me,  Pöllnitz,  did  you  not 
know  the  law  of  the  Tobacco  Club,  forbidding  you  to 
arise  from  your  seat  ? " 

"  I  know  it,  sire,  but  thought  I  might  be  allowed  to 
make  an  exception  of  the  prince  royal." 

"  So  thought  we  all,"  said  General  Schwerin,  in  a 
steady  voice. 

The  king  struck  with  doubled  fist  on  the  table,  and 
the  pitchers  and  beer-mugs  trembled. 

"  You  thought  that,"  said  the  king,  "  and  yet  knew 
that  no  exception  was  ever  made  for  me!  But  certainly 
the  prince  royal  is  of  more  consequence  than  the  king. 
The  prince  royal  is  the  future  sovereign,  the  rising  sun! 
What  the  king  was  not  able  to  give,  the  prince  royal  may 
bestow.  From  the  king  there  is  nothing  left  to  hope, 
nothing  to  fear;  for  this  reason  you  turn  to  the  prince 
royal;  for  this  reason  you  ridicule  the  laws  of  the  father 
to  flatter  the  son.  The  son  is  a  fine  French  cavalier,  who 
loves  ornament  and  courtesy,  to  whom  the  question  of 
etiquette  is  important.  You  stand  up  also  when  the 
prince  royal  enters,  although  you  know  in  this  room  all 
are  equal,  and  here  you  have  often  forgotten  that  I  am 
king.  Yes,  the  king  can  be  forgotten — the  prince  royal 
never ;  he  may  soon  be  king !  " 

"  God  grant  your  majesty  a  long  and  happy  life,"  said 
the  prince  royal. 

During  this  passionate  speech  of  the  king,  he  had 
stood  silent  and  immovable  behind  his  chair. 

"  Who  spoke  to  you  ?  Who  told  you  to  speak  until 
you  were  questioned  ? "  said  the  king,  whose  whole  form 


30  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

trembled  with  rage.  "  You,  the  slave  of  etiquette,  should 
know  that  no  man  speaks  to  the  king  until  he  is  spokefn 
to.  Truly  you  think  the  king  does  not  understand  eti- 
quette. He  is  an  old-fashioned  man,  and  knows  not  how 
a  true  cavalier  should  conduct  himself.  Now,  PöUnitz, 
you  see  there  a  cavalier  after  your  own  heart,  a  veritable 
model.  Ah,  you  thought  perhaps  I  did  not  see  the  face 
lurking  behind  your  picture;  you  suppose  I  did  not 
recognize  the  cavalier  you  painted  in  such  glowing  colors, 
in  order  to  prove  that  he  must  have  four  hundred  thou- 
sand dollars  yearly  or  be  forced  to  make  debts.  Patience ! 
patience!  my  eyes  are  at  last  opened!  Woe,  woe  to  you 
all  when  I  see  that  you  dare  brave  me  in  order  to  please 
the  prince  royal !  I  will  prove  to  you  that  I  yet  live,  and 
am  your  master.  The  Tobacco  Club  is  closed,  and  you 
may  all  go  to  the  devil !  " 

"  As  I  don't  know  the  way  there,  will  your  majesty  al- 
low me  to  return  to  Rheinsberg?  I  now  take  my  leave,'* 
said  the  prince  royal,  bowing  respectfully  to  the  king. 

Frederick  William  turned  his  head,  and  said  but  one 
word—"  Go !  " 

The  prince  bowed  again;  then,  turning  to  the  cava- 
liers, he  said : 

"  Good-evening,  gentlemen.  I  sincerely  regret  to 
have  been  the  cause  of  the  king's  anger.  Against  you 
this  displeasure  is  however  just,  for  a  command  of  the 
king  should  never  be  disobeyed,  not  even  with  a  kind  and 
magnanimous  intent." 

The  prince  had  with  these  words  put  himself  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  king's  rage,  and  at  the  same  time  done 
justice  to  all :  to  the  king  in  acknowledging  the  justice  of 
his  anger;  to  the  cavaliers  in  praising  their  good  in- 
tentions.    He  was  evidently  master  of  the  situation. 

With  a  firm,  steady  tread  he  left  the  room,  while  the 
king,  in  spite  of  his  anger,  could  not  help  feeling  that  he 
had  again  failed  in  kindness  to  the  prince  royal.    But 


AND  HIS  COURT.  31 

this  consciousness  only  made  him  the  more  passionate. 
He  muttered  a  deep  curse,  and  looked  threateningly  at 
the  pale,  trembling  cavaliers. 

"  Hypocrites  and  eye-servants  are  you  all,"  muttered 
he,  as  he  slowly  passed  by  them.  "  Give  me  your  arm, 
Hacke,  and  lead  me  into  the  other  room.  I  cannot  look 
at  these  men  any  longer." 

Count  Hacke  rushed  forward,  and,  leaning  on  his 
arm,  the  king  tottered  into  the  adjoining  room. 

When  the  door  closed  behind  them,  the  cavaliers 
seemed  to  awaken  from  their  torpidity.  They  raised 
their  heads,  and  looked  at  one  another  with  a  half-con- 
fused, half -angry  gaze.  They  had  been  scolded  like  chil- 
dren, and  felt  that  they  were  men.  Their  honor  had  re- 
ceived a  sensitive  wound,  but  their  awe  of  the  king  kept 
them  from  demanding  satisfaction. 

When  the  count  returned  to  order  the  gentlemen  in 
the  king's  name  to  leave  the  palace,  they  did  not  have  the 
courage  to  obey  this  command,  but  sent  the  count  as 
their  ambassador  to  the  king  to  ask  in  the  humblest 
manner  for  forgiveness  and  pardon,  and  to  assure  him 
that  their  behavior  to  the  prince  royal  was  but  the  conse- 
quence of  involuntary  thoughtlessness. 

The  count,  after  much  trembling,  left  the  room  to  de- 
liver this  message  to  the  king;  the  cavaliers  waited  in 
anxious  silence  for  his  return.  At  length  the  door 
opened,  and  the  count  appeared. 

"  Well,  what  says  the  king  ?  Has  he  forgiven  us  ? 
Will  he  take  us  into  his  favor  again?  Is  he  convinced 
that  we  are  his  true,  humble,  and  obedient  servants  ? " 

All  these  questions  the  count  answered  by  a  slight 
motion  of  the  hand.  It  was  a  moment  of  anxious  expec- 
tation; all  were  eagerly  looking  at  the  count,  who  was  to 
pronounce  for  them  the  words  of  forgiveness  or  condem- 
nation. 

"  Gentlemen,"  at  length  said  the  count,  and  his  voice 


32  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

sounded  to  the  trembling  courtiers  hollow  and  awftd  as 
that  of  an  angel  of  death,  "gentlemen,  the  king  says  if 
you  do  not  leave  here  at  once,  he  will  easily  find  means 
to  compel  you  to  do  so !  " 

This  was  a  menace  that  gave  strength  to  the  trembling 
limbs  of  the  courtiers.  Silently,  with  sad,  troubled  looks, 
they  hastened  away,  and  not  until  the  great  portals  of  the 
palace  had  closed  upon  them  did  they  feel  safe  from  the 
fear  of  imprisonment,  and  the  king's  crutch. 

The  king  had  not  yet  subdued  his  anger.  He  thirsted 
for  another  victim.  The  servants  wisely  remained  at  a 
distance  beyond  the  reach  of  the  royal  crutch;  the  king's 
ungovernable  anger  had  even  banished  Count  Hacke 
from  the  room. 

The  king  was  alone,  entirely  alone  in  this  dark,  empty 
room,  and  its  comfortless  silence  filled  him  with  anxiety. 
He  sank  into  his  arm-chair,  and  looked  with  a  sad  glance 
around  this  large  room,  which,  because  of  his  parsimony, 
was  but  badly  lighted  with  four  tallow  candles.  Nothing 
broke  the  silence  but  from  time  to  time  the  gay  music  of 
the  dance,  which  was  heard  from  the  other  wing  of  the 
castle.  Mirth  still  reigned  in  the  saloons  of  the  queen. 
The  king  sighed;  his  heart  was  filled  with  melancholy 
and  rage.  The  queen  was  gay,  while  her  husband  suf- 
fered. The  court  was  joyful,  while  he  sat  alone  and  neg- 
lected, gnashing  his  teeth  in  this  dark  and  joyless  room. 
And  yet  he  was  the  king,  the  all-powerful  ruler  of  mill- 
ions of  subjects,  who  trembled  before  him,  and  yet  not 
one  of  them  loved  him. 

All  eyes  were  fixed  upon  the  rising  sun,  upon  Fred- 
erick, so  unlike  his  father,  and  so  little  the  son  of  his 
father's  heart.  As  the  king  thought  of  this,  deep  grief 
and  a  foreboding  melancholy  overcame  him.  In  the  an- 
guish of  his  heart  he  turned  to  God  and  prayed.  He 
silenced  the  voice  of  self -accusation  and  remorse,  now 
whispering  in  his  breast,  by  prayer. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  33 

The  king  prayed.  Exhausted  with  rage,  he  fancied 
that  he  had  given  himself  up  to  pious  contrition  and 
world-despising  godliness. 

As  the  tones  of  the  music  were  again  heard,  he  ex- 
perienced a  pious  exasperation  over  this  unholy  levity, 
a  peaceful  self -content ;  he  belonged  not  to  the  ungodly, 
who  gave  themselves  up  to  worldliness  and  vanity,  but 
alone  and  deserted  he  prayed  to  his  Father  in  heaven. 
How  small,  how  pitiful,  how  contemptible  did  the  gay 
dancers  appear  to  him!  How  pleased  he  was  with  him- 
self, his  holy  walk  and  conversation!  At  this  moment 
the  anxious  face  of  his  valet  appeared  at  the  door. 

"  Your  majesty  commanded  me  to  tell  you  so  soon  as 
the  coffins  which  came  yesterday  were  unpacked  and 
placed  in  the  white  saloon:  this  is  done,  and  the  coffins 
can  be  seen." 

"  Ah !  My  coffin  is  ready !  "  said  the  king,  involun- 
tarily shuddering.  "  My  coffin,  and  that  of  the  queen ! 
And  Sophia  gives  a  ball,  and  perhaps  dances,  in  place  of 
bowing  her  soul  in  contrition  before  God.  I  will 
awaken  her  from  these  soul-destroying  vanities;  the  ar- 
rival of  the  coffins  now  was  an  especial  providence  of  God. 
The  queen  shall  see  them !  " 

He  called  his  two  valets,  commanded  one  to  lead  him 
to  the  ball-room,  the  other  to  illuminate  the  white  saloon 
in  which  the  coffins  were  placed. 


34  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

CHAPTEE    VI. 

THE   WHITE   SALOON. 

The  queen  had  no  suspicion  of  all  that  had  happened 
in  the  chambers  of  the  king;  she  had  not  observed  the 
absence  of  the  Tobacco  Club,  and  after  having  made  the 
grand  tour  of  the  saloons,  she  seated  herself  at  the  card- 
table. 

Her  majesty  had  no  idea  that  her  husband  was  free 
from  pain,  and  had  left  his  arm-chair;  she  was,  therefore, 
gay  and  careless,  filled  with  a  sense  of  freedom  and 
power.  The  cruel  eye  of  Frederick  William  was  not 
bent  upon  her  to  look  her  down,  and  cast  a  veil  of  hu- 
mility over  the  sparkling  diamonds  which  adorned  her 
brow;  no,  she  was  to-night  entirely  herself — every  inch 
a  queen!  proud  and  happy,  smiling  and  majestic.  Re- 
joicing in  her  own  greatness  and  glory,  she  was  still  amia- 
ble and  obliging  to  this  great  crowd  of  devoted,  submis- 
sive, flattering,  smiling  men,  who  surrounded  her;  never 
had  she  been  so  gracious,  never  so  queenly.  As  we  have 
said,  she  had  seated  herself  at  the  card-table,  and  the  mar- 
grafin Maria  Dorothea  and  the  English  and  French  am- 
bassadors were  her  partners;  behind  her  chair  stood  her 
two  maids  of  honor,  to  whom  she  now  and  then  addressed 
a  word,  or  sent  them  to  look  after  the  young  princesses, 
who  were  dancing  in  the  adjoining  room,  and  giving 
themselves  up  merrily  to  the  pleasures  of  the  evening. 
Suddenly  the  music  ceased,  and  a  strange,  unaccustomed 
silence  reigned  throughout  the  rooms. 

The  queen  was  arranging  the  cards,  and  turned  smil- 
ingly to  one  of  her  maids  of  honor,  commanding  her  as 
soon  as  the  dance  was  ended  to  lead  the  princesses  to 
her  side;  she  then  gave  her  attention  to  the  game,  when 
suddenly  the  Princess  Amelia,  pale  and  terrified,  rushed 


AND  HIS  COURT.  35 

hastily  to  her  mother,  and  whispered  a  few  words  in  her 


ear 


Sophia  Dorothea  uttered  a  low  cry  of  terror,  and  ex- 
claimed: "The  king!  my  God,  the  king!  he  seems  very 
angry !  "  said  the  princess ;  "  do  not  let  him  see  your  dia- 
monds." The  partners  of  the  queen  sat  in  respectful  si- 
lence, waiting  for  her  to  play;  she  dashed  her  cards  upon 
the  table,  removed  her  necklace  and  bracelets  hastily,  and 
thrust  the  glittering  heap  into  her  dress  pocket.* 

"Remove  my  long  ear-rings,"  she  whispered  to 
Amelia,  and  while  the  princess  obeyed  the  command,  the 
queen  took  her  cards  from  the  table.  The  glory  was 
departed;  the  diamonds  were  hiding  timidly  in  her 
pocket,  and  the  fire  of  her  eye  was  quenched. 

The  king  was  there;  Sophia  Dorothea  was  no  longer 
a  royal  queen,  but  a  trembling,  dependent  woman,  cower- 
ing before  the  rage  of  her  husband.  The  partners  of  the 
queen  sat  quietly  with  downcast  eyes,  and  did  not  appear 
to  see  the  rash  change  in  the  toilet  of  her  majesty,  still 
seemingly  waiting  for  the  play  of  the  queen.  Sophia 
played  a  queen.  Lord  Hastings  played  the  king. 

"  Lost !  "  said  her  majesty,  "  so  must  the  queen  ever 
lose  when  the  king  comes;  but  it  is  always  a  comfort," 
she  said,  with  a  bitter  smile,  "  to  be  overcome  only  by  a 
king."  She  played  on  quietly,  though  she  knew  that  the 
king  was  already  in  the  door  of  the  room  and  watching 

her  closely. 

As  the  king  stepped  forward  and  called  her  name,  she 
rose  and  advanced  toward  him  with  an  expression  of  joy- 
ful surprise. 

"Ah,  my  husband,  what  a  great  pleasure  you  have 
prepared  for  us!"  she  said  smiling;  "it  is  most  amiable 
of  your  majesty  to  glorify  this  feast  with  your  presence 

"I  come,  however,"  said  the  king,  in  a  rude,  harsh 
voice,  and  thrusting  the  queen's  arm  in  his  own,  "  to  cast 
*  See  Thi^bault. 


3ß  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

gloom  upon  this  fete;  it  is  good  and  necessary  in  the 
midst  of  tumultuous  earthly  pleasures  to  be  reminded  of 
the  fleeting  vanity  of  all  sublunary  things;  and  to  still 
the  voluptuous  music  with  prayer,  I  am  come  to  adminis- 
ter this  medicine  to  your  vain  and  sin-sick  soul.  Come 
with  me,  you  there !  "  said  the  king,  turning  his  head 
backward  to  the  courtiers,  who  were  gathered  in  silent  and 
frightened  groups.  "  You  there,  follow  us ! "  He 
dragged  the  queen  forward;  silently  the  procession  of 
richly-adorned  guests  followed  the  royal  pair,  no  one 
knew  where. 

The  queen  had  in  vain  implored  the  king  to  make 
known  his  purpose.  This  long  procession,  adorned  with 
flowers,  diamonds,  uniforms,  and  orders,  had  a  gay  and 
festal  appearance;  you  might  well  suppose  them  wed- 
ding guests  on  their  way  to  church.  The  principal  actors 
on  this  occasion,  however,  did  not  promise  to  be  a  happy 
pair. 

The  king  looked  steadily,  with  a  frowning  brow  and 
tightly-compressed  lips,  right  before  him;  the  queen, 
wan  and  trembling,  turned  her  eyes  anxiously  from  side 
to  side,  seeking  everywhere  some  new  danger,  some  new 
terror  prepared  for  her.  The  procession  stepped  silently 
and  earnestly  through  the  dressing-rooms,  odorous  with 
flowers;  through  the  illuminated  antechamber;  further 
on  through  the  corridors  and  up  the  wide  stair  steps;  on- 
ward still  through  long  passages  till  they  reached  the 
great  doors  of  the  White  Saloon,  which  Frederick  had 
built  and  adorned. 

"  We  have  arrived,"  said  the  king,  opening  the  door, 
and  leading  in  the  queen.  Suddenly  Sophia  Dorothea 
uttered  a  cry  of  horror,  and  fell  backwards;  behind  her 
stood  the  curious,  astonished,  and  shocked  courtiers, 
pressing  themselves  hastily  through  the  door  of  the  sa- 
loon. 

"  Two   coffins ! "  murmured  the   queen,   with   horror ; 


AND  HIS  COURT.  3? 

her  timid  glance  rested  first  upon  the  solemn  coffins,  then 
wandered  anxiously  to  the  lofty,  imposing  marble  statues 
of  the  prince  electors,  who,  in  solemn  rest,  in  this  chamber 
of  the  dead,  seemed  to  hold  a  watch  over  the  coffins  of 
the  living. 

"  Yes,  two  coffins,"  said  the  king — "  our  coffins,  So- 
phia; and  I  resolved  in  this  hour  to  show  them  to  you 
and  the  assembled  court,  that  this  solemn  warning  might 
arouse  you  all  from  your  unholy  and  sinful  lusts.  Death 
must  strike  at  your  heart  to  awaken  it  from  voluptuous 
sleep  and  cause  you  to  look  within.  In  these  coffins  we 
will  soon  rest,  and  all  earthly  vanity  and  glory  will  be  at 
an  end.  No  one  will  fear  my  glance  or  my  crutch;  no 
one  will  compliment  the  beautiful  toilet  of  the  queen, 
or  admire  her  diamonds;  dust  will  return  to  dust,  and 
the  king  and  the  queen  be  nothing  more  than  food  for 
worms !  " 

"Not  so,"  said  Sophia,  whose  noble  and  proud  heart 
felt  humbled  by  this  pious  grovelling  of  her  husband; 
"  not  so,  we  will  be  more  than  dust  and  food  for  worms. 
The  dust  of  common  mortals  will  be  scattered  in  every 
direction  by  the  hand  of  Time,  and  over  their  graves 
will  History  walk  with  destroying  feet;  but  she  will  re- 
main with  us  and  will  gather  our  dust,  and  build  there- 
with a  monument  to  our  memory;  when  our  bodies  of 
flesh  and  blood  are  placed  in  the  vault  of  our  ancestors, 
our  forrhs  will  arise  again  with  limbs  of  marble  and 
bosoms  without  hearts.  Look,  my  husband,  at  these 
statues  of  your  exalted  ancestors;  they  have  also  gone 
down  into  the  vaults,  but  their  marble  forms  have  the 
best  places  in  our  splendid  rooms ;  perhaps  they  listen  to 
our  words  and  behold  our  deeds." 

Whilst  the  queen  spoke,  her  countenance  was  illumi- 
nated with  royal  energy  and  beauty ;  she  was  now,  indeed, 
truly  imperial,  without  the  aid  of  diamond  coronets. 
The  queen  was  herself   again;  she  had  conquered  her 


38  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

womanish  fears;  she  felt  herself  not  only  the  wife  of 
Frederick,  but  the  sister  of  the  king  of  England,  the 
mother  of  the  future  king. 

But  Frederick,  in  what  he  considered  his  holy  peniten- 
tial mood,  was  made  angry  by  her  self-possession,  her 
proudly-erected  head;  he  felt  that  this  soul  had  made  it- 
self free  from  his  heavy  yoke,  and  claimed  and  enjoyed  a 
separate  existence;  but  she  should  acknowledge  him 
again  as  her  lord,  and  he  bowed  down  with  humble  peni- 
tence. The  queen  should  become  the  woman,  the  obe- 
dient wife ;  had  not  the  Bible  said,  and  "  he  shall  rule 
over  thee  "  ? 

"  So,  then,  let  our  ancestors  behold  how  we  try  our 
coffins  before  them,"  said  the  king,  placing  his  hand 
heavily  on  the  shoulder  of  the  queen ;  "  the  world  knows 
that  diamonds  become  you,  and  that  I,  in  my  uniform, 
am  a  fine-looking  fellow;  let  us  see  now  how  our  coffins 
will  clothe  us !  " 

"What  do  you  mean,  my  king?"  said  Sophia,  fijxing 
her  trembling  glance  upon  her  husband. 

"  I  mean  that  we  will  see  if  we  can  take  our  places 
with  dignity  and  worthily  in  our  coffins;  that  we  will  do 
to-day  in  sport  what  we  must  hereafter  do  in  solemn 
earnest." 

"  This  is  indeed  a  cruel  jest,"  said  the  queen. 

"  Oh,  yes,  to  the  children  of  this  world  every  thing 
seems  cruel  which  reminds  them  of  death  and  the  fleeting 
nature  of  all  earthly  joys,"  said  the  king,  "but  such  a 
warning  is  good  and  healthy  to  the  soul,  and  if  we  would 
accustom  ourselves  from  time  to  time  to  leave  the  ball- 
room and  rest  awhile  in  our  coffins,  we  would,  without 
doubt,  lead  more  holy  and  earnest  lives.  Lay  yourself, 
therefore,  in  your  coffin,  Sophia;  it  will  be  to  your  soul's 
advantage,  and  my  eyes  will  see  a  picture  which,  praised 
be  God,  you  can  never  behold.  I  shall  see  you  in  your 
coffin." 


AND   HIS  COURT.  39 

"  Oh,  you  are  younger  than  I,  my  husband ;  you  will 
surely  see  me  buried ;  it  is  not  therefore  necessary  to  put 
me  to  this  trial." 

"Conquer  thy  soul,  and  make  it  quiet  and  hiimble," 
said  the  king;  "we  have  come  hither  to  try  our  coffins, 
and  we  will  try  them !  " 

"  The  king  had  a  feverish  attack  of  piety  to-day.  I 
would  not  have  come  if  I  had  known  the  intentions 
of  your  majesty,"  said  the  queen. 

"  You  would  have  come  as  I  willed  it,"  murmured  the 
king,  while  his  cheeks  glowed  with  anger  and  his  eye 
flashed  fire. 

Sophia  saw  these  symptoms  of  a  rising  storm,  and 
she  knew  that  all  restraints  would  be  removed  if  she 
resisted  longer.  She  called  with  a  commanding  tone  to 
one  of  her  maids  of  honor,  and  said  proudly : 

"  Eeach  me  your  hand,  duchess ;  I  am  weary,  and  will 
for  awhile  rest  upon  this  bed,  of  a  new  and  uncommon 

form." 

With  the  appearance  and  nobility  of  a  truly  royal  soul, 
she  raised  her  robe  a  little,  lifted  her  foot  over  the  edge 
of  the  coffin,  and  placed  it  firmly  in  the  bottom.  She 
stood  in  the  coffin  proudly  erect,  commanding  and  ma- 
jestic to  behold ;  then,  with  inimitable  grace,  she  stooped 
and  lay  down  slowly.  The  coffin  creaked  and  groaned, 
and  amongst  the  crowd  of  courtiers  a  murmur  of  hor- 
ror and  disgust  was  heard.  The  king  stood  near  the 
coffin,  and  Sophia  Dorothea  looked  at  him  so  steadily, 
so  piercingly,  that  he  had  not  the  courage  to  meet 
her  glance,  and  fixed  his  eyes  upon  the  ground.  The 
queen  stood  up  quietly.  The  Countess  Hacke  held  out 
her    hand    to    assist    her,    but    she    waved    her    proudly 

back. 

"  No,"  she  said,  "  kings  and  queens  leave  their  coffins 
by  their  own  strength  and  greatness,  and  sustained  by 
the  hand  of  History  alone."     Sophia  then  stepped  over 


4:0  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

the  edge  of  the  coffin,  and,  bowing  profoundly  to  the  king, 
she  said — 

"  Your  majesty,  it  is  now  your  turn." 

The  king  was  confused.  He  cast  a  dark,  distrustful 
glance  upon  the  queen.  Her  simple  words  had  for  him  a 
prophetic  meaning,  and  he  shuddered  as  he  drew  near 
the  coffin.  With  a  powerful  effort  he  overcame  himself, 
stepped  into  the  coffin,  and  nodded  to  some  of  his  court- 
iers to  assist  him  in  lying  down, 

"  Ah,  I  rest  well  iipon  this  couch,"  said  Frederick. 
"  Here  will  I  soon  sleep  till  it  shall  please  God  to  wake 
me  at  the  resurrection !  " 

"  May  that  time  be  far  removed,  my  king ! "  said 
Sophia  earnestly.     "  Allow  me  to  assist  you." 

She  reached  her  hand  to  the  king;  he  seized  it  with 
alacrity,  and  was  in  the  act  of  rising,  when  a  wild  and 
unaccustomed  sound  was  heard  without — a  loud,  piercing 
cry,  which  was  many  times  repeated,  then  the  sound  of 
hasty  steps  approaching  the  room!  The  pallid  and  awe- 
struck courtiers  whispered  to  each  other. 

"  What  is  it  ? "  cried  the  king,  who  was  still  sittiiig  in 
his  coffin. 

JSTo  one  answered.  The  courtiers  whispered  confused 
and  wild  words,  but  no  one  dared  to  answer. 

"I  demand  to  know  what  has  happened,"  said  the 
king,  as  with  much  difficulty  he  sought  to  raise  him- 
self up. 

The  major  domo  stepped  forward.  "  Your  majesty, 
two  soldiers  are  without  who  held  watch  in  the  corridor; 
they  declare  that  a  long,  white  figure,  with  a  veiled  face 
and  black  gloves,  passed  slowly  by  them  the  whole  length 
of  the  corridor,  and  entered  this  room;  they,  believing 
that  some  unseemly  mask  -wished  to  approach  your  maj- 
esty, followed  the  figure  and  saw  it  enter  this  room.  They 
ran  hither  to  seize  the  masker,  but  your  majesty  knows 
no  such  person  is  here." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  41 

"  The  white  lady !  "  cried  the  king,  and  sank  powerless 
and  as  if  broken  to  pieces  in  the  coffin.  "  The  white 
lady!  veiled  and  with  black  gloves!  That  signifies  my 
death!" 

"  The  white  lady !  "  murmured  the  courtiers,  with- 
drawing involuntarily  from  the  door  through  which  the 
evil-omened  white  lady  should  enter. 

The  queen  alone  was  silent.  She  looked  around  with 
a  searching  glance  upon  the  marble  statues  of  the  prince 
electors,  and  her  soul  was  far  away  with  her  beloved 
son  Frederick. 


CHAPTEE   VII. 

THE  MAID  OF  HONOR,  AND  THE  GARDENER. 

It  was  a  lovely  day  in  May.  The  lilacs  were  in  bloom ; 
the  birds  were  singing  their  sweetest  songs;  the  swans 
floating  upon  the  ti'anquil  lake,  which,  bordered  with 
water  lilies  and  other  fragrant  plants,  was  one  of  the 
chief  ornaments  in  the  garden  of  the  prince  royal  at 
Rheinsberg.  It  was  still  early;  the  residents  of  the  pal- 
ace, which  was  surrounded  by  this  beautiful  garden,  were 
sleeping;  the  windows  were  closed  and  curtained,  and 
you  heard  none  of  the  sounds  which  usually  arose  from 
this  gay  and  charming  place.  No  music  fell  on  the  ear 
but  the  melting  tones  of  the  nightingale  and  the  morning 
song  of  the  lark. 

The  prince  royal  himself  was  still  asleep,  for  his  flute 
was  silent,  and  that  was  a  sure  sign  to  all  who  lived  in 
the  palace  that  the  lord  of  the  house  was  not  awake, 
or  at  least  that  he  had  not  yet  begun  the  day. 

The  music  of  his  flute  was  the  morning  sacrifice  with 
which   the  young  prince   greeted   the   day;  it,   like   tibe 


42  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

pillar  of  Memnon,  which  gave  forth  a  sound  when 
touched  by  the  rays  of  the  sun,  announced  to  his 
flattering  courtiers  that  their  sun  had  arisen. 

But  the  flute  was  silent;  the  sun  had  therefore  not 
arisen,  although  its  beams  had  long  been  flooding  the 
park  in  golden  light,  and  drinking  from  every  flower  the 
dew  that  had  fallen  during  the  past  sultry  night. 

Fritz  Wendel,  the  gardener,  was  already  busy  with  his 
watering-pot,  and  was  at  the  same  time  anxiously  select- 
ing and  gathering  the  most  beautiful  flowers,  and  con- 
cealing them  carefully  under  the  various  plants  and 
bushes ;  perhaps  to  protect  them  from  the  heat  of  the  sun, 
perhaps  to  secure  them  from  the  curious  eyes  of  some  ob- 
server. Such  eyes  were  already  observing  him,  and  rest- 
ing upon  him  with  an  expression  so  tender  and  smiling, 
that  you  could  see  that  the  young  girl  to  whom  they  be- 
longed had  a  special  interest  in  the  tall,  handsome 
gardener,  who,  in  his  modest,  simple  dress,  and  his  great 
and  imposing  beauty,  appeared  to  realize  the  truth  of  the 
old  fables,  of  the  gods  who  visited  the  earth  in  disguise. 
He  might  have  been  Apollo  charmed  by  some  Daphne, 
and  taking  this  rude  dress  to  approach  the  shepherdess  he 
loved.  Perhaps  this  charming  young  girl  thought  thus, 
and  on  that  account  looked  at  him  so  smilingly  from 
behind  the  lilacs,  or  perhaps  she  believed  him  to  be  a 
prince,  and  waited  anxiously  for  the  moment  when  he 
would  throw  off  his  disguise  and  declare  himself  her 
equal.  For  she  was,  although  not  a  princess,  maid  of 
honor  to  one,  and  of  noble  birth. 

But  youth  is  indifferent  to  such  things  as  a  genealogi- 
cal tree,  or  a  coat-of-arms,  and  what  cared  this  child  of 
thirteen  summers  whether  Fritz  Wendel  was  the  son  of  a 
prince  or  a  peasant?  He  pleased  her  because  he  was 
young  and  handsome,  and  he  had  one  other  great  charm, 
he  was  her  first  lover.  Every  one  else  called  Mademoi- 
selle von  Schwerin  a  child,  and  jested  with  little  Louise. 


AND   HIS  COURT.  43 

The  princess  royal  had  begged  her  from  her  mother,  as  a 
sort  of  plaything  with  which  to  amuse  her  lonely  hours, 
and  the  title  "  maid  of  honor "  was  only  a  jest,  which 
served  merely  to  secure  the  entrance  of  the  young  lady  to 
her  royal  mistress  at  any  time. 

But  Louise  was  only  a  child  in  years;  she  possessed 
already  the  heart,  the  feelings,  and  the  desires  of  a 
woman;  nothing,  therefore,  hurt  her  pride  so  much 
as  being  called  a  child,  and  she  was  never  happier  than 
when  her  beauty  and  talent  caused  her  youth  to  be  for- 
gotten. 

Fritz  Wendel,  the  young  gardener,  knew  nothing  of 
her  age.  For  him  she  was  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin, 
a  young  lady,  the  goddess  at  whose  shrine  he  worshipped, 
the  fairy  under  whose  glance  his  flowers  bloomed,  and  his 
heart  beat  high.  For  her  alone  he  tended  the  flowers  and 
the  fruits;  for  her  alone  had  God  created  the  earth;  was 
she  not  its  queen,  and  was  it  not  natural  that  Fritz 
Wendel  lay  at  her  feet,  and  called  her  the  star  of  his  ex- 
istence ? 

The  young  lady  having  watched  her  silent,  dreaming 
"  first  lover "  long  enough,  and  tired  of  this  unnatural 
silence,  walked  forward  from  her  place  of  concealment, 
and  bade  Fritz  Wendel  good-morning,  just  as  he  was 
gathering  a  beautiful  narcissus. 

Poor  Fritz  trembled,  and  a  deep  blush  overspread  his 
face;  he  was  so  embarrassed  that  he  forgot  to  return  the 
young  girl's  greeting,  and  only  bent  still  lower  over  the 
flower  which  he  held  in  his  hand. 

"  For  whom  are  your  flowers  intended  ? "  said  Louise, 
"and  why  have  you  hidden  the  most  beautiful  ones? 
Will  you  not  place  them  in  the  bouquet  which  you  ar- 
range every  morning  for  the  princess  ?  " 

"  I  have  never  been  ordered  to  gather  the  most  beauti- 
ful flowers  for  the  princess,"  said  Fritz  Wendel,  who  had 
not  yet  dared  to  glance  at  the  young  lady.    "  The  prince 


44  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

royal  commanded  me  to  place  fresh  flowers  in  the  vase3 
every  morning;  that  is  all." 

"  But  it  seems  to  me  that  is  not  all,"  said  Louise, 
laughing,  "  for  you  are  gathering  other  flowers ;  for 
whom  are  they  intended,  if  not  for  the  princess  royal  ? " 

Fritz  Wendel  at  length  dared  to  raise  his  eyes,  and 
glance  timidly  at  the  smiling  face  of  the  young  girl  who 
stood  near  him. 

"  They  are  also  intended  for  a  princess,"  he  said,  in  a 
low  voice — "  for  my  princess." 

"  Oh !  then  you  have  a  special  princess  for  whom  you 
gather  flowers  ? " 

"Yes,  I  have  my  princess,  whom  I  serve,  and  for 
whom  I  would  willingly  sacrifice  my  life,"  cried  the 
impetuous  young  man,  with  all  the  energy  of  his  passion- 
ate and  untamed  nature. 

Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  played  carelessly  with  the 
branch  of  the  lilac  which  she  held  in  her  hand.  She 
plucked  off  the  small  blossoms,  and  throwing  them  in  the 
air,  blew  them  about,  as  she  danced  here  and  there  on 
tiptoe. 

"  I  would  like  to  know  how  it  is  that  I  find  a  magnifi- 
cent bouquet  in  my  room  every  morning,  and  who  it  is 
that  dares  to  gather  more  beautiful  flowers  for  me  than 
any  to  be  found  in  the  vases  of  the  princess  royal  ? " 

"  It  must  be  some  one  who  adores  you,"  said  the 
young  gardener,  with  his  eyes  on  the  ground,  and  blush- 
ing deeply  at  his  own  temerity. 

"  Then  it  is  a  nobleman,  perhaps  one  of  the  court 
gentlemen,"  she  said,  casting  a  teasing  glance  on  her  em- 
barrassed lover.  "  Who  else  would  dare  to  adore  me,  or 
to  send  me  flowers  ?  " 

"  Yes,  you  are  right,  who  would  dare  ? "  murmured 
Fritz  Wendel ;  "  perhaps  some  poor,  deluded  mortal,  led 
by  a  wild  insanity  to  forget  his  humble  condition,  and 
consider  himself  your  equal.     There  have  been  maniacs 


AND  HIS  COURT.  45 

who  imagined  themselves  great  among  earth's  greatest 
men,  and  equal  even  to  the  very  God  in  heaven." 

"  How  pale  you  are !  "  cried  Louise,  looking  at  the 
young  man  with  undissembled  tenderness.  "  Why  do 
you  weep,  Fritz  ?  " 

She  took  his  hand,  and  gazed  into  his  eyes  with  a 
most  singular  expression,  half  curious,  half  questioning. 

Fritz  Wendel  trembled  with  delight  at  her  touch,  but 
withdrew  his  hand  almost  with  violence. 

"  I  weep  because  I  am  a  miserable  gardener,"  he  mur- 
mured ;  "  I  weep  because  I  am  not  great  and  noble,  like 
the  gentlemen  at  court." 

"  Yesterday  Baron  von  Kaiserling  gave  an  account  of 
an  Austrian  general,  who  was  the  son  of  a  peasant,  and 
had  been  a  cowherd.  Now  he  is  a  general,  and  is  married 
to  the  ^daughter  of  a  count." 

The  countenance  of  Fritz  Wendel  beamed  with  energy 
and  courage. 

"  Oh !  why  is  there  not  a  war  ?  "  he  cried,  enthusiasti- 
cally. "  I  could  not  fail  to  become  a  general,  for  I 
should  fight  like  a  lion." 

"  You  would  like  to  become  a  general,  in  order  to 
marry  the  daughter  of  a  count  ? " 

"  !N'ot  the  daughter  of  a  count,  but " 

"  Fritz  Wendel !  Fritz  Wendel !  "  called  a  voice  in  the 
distance. 

"  It  is  the  head  gardener,"  said  poor  Fritz,  sadly. 
"  Farewell,  farewell ;  be  kind  and  gracious,  and  come 
again  to-morrow  to  the  garden." 

He  took  his  basket  of  flowers,  and  hurried  down  the 
avenue. 

Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  followed  him,  with  an 
angry  glance.  "  Once  more  no  declaration  of  love,"  she 
murmured,  stamping  on  the  groimd  with  the  spitefulness 
of  a  child.  "  He  shall  make  me  a  declaration.  Madame 
von  Morien  says  there  is  nothing  more  heavenly  than  to 

Mühlbach  3  Vol.  1 


46  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

hear  for  the  first  time  that  you  are  beloved.  She  also 
says  it  is  wisest  not  to  choose  your  lovers  among  your 
equals,  but  either  above  or  beneath  you,  for  then  you  may 
be  sure  that  you  will  not  be  betrayed.  She  told  me  yes- 
terday that  she  was  never  so  worshipped  as  by  a  young 
huntsman  who  served  her  father  when  she  was  just  my 
age,  and  that  no  other  man  had  ever  adored  her  as  he 
had  done.  'Now  Fritz  Wendel  loves  me  also,  and  he  shall 
make  me  a  declaration,  for  I  must  know  what  this  charm- 
ing sensation  is.  He  shall  do  it  to-morrow.  I  will  be 
so  kind  and  gentle  that  he  will  tell  me  of  his  love.  But 
now  I  must  return  to  the  palace.  I  dare  not  be  found 
here,"  and  the  young  girl  flew  away  lightly  as  a  gazelle. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

VON  MANTEUFPEL,   THE  DIPLOMAT. 

The  garden  was  again  solitary.  Nothing  was  heard 
but  the  chattering  of  birds,  as  they  flitted  from  limb  to 
limb,  and  the  whispering  of  the  wind  among  the  trees; 
all  else  was  tranquil  and  still.  But  this  did  not  last  long. 
The  noise  of  advancing  footsteps  gave  evidence  of  the 
approach  of  some  one,  whose  figure  was  soon  visible  at 
the  entrance  of  the  grand  avenue. 

This  person  was  again  a  lady,  who,  if  not  so  beautiful 
as  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin,  was  still  pretty  enough  to 
be  called  one  of  the  fair  sex.  She  was  dressed  in  a  charm- 
ing and  tasteful  morning  robe,  which  was  eminently 
adapted  to  display  to  advantage  the  beautiful  contour  of 
her  tall  and  stately  figure, 

Nor  had  she  come  into  the  garden  merely  to  breathe 
the  fresh  morning   air,   and   enjoy  the   delightful   fra- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  47 

grance  of  flowers;  these  were  scarcely  observed,  as  she  hur- 
riedly swept  past  them.  She  stood  still  for  a  moment  at 
the  end  of  the  long  avenue,  and  looked  cautiously  around 
in  all  directions.  Seeing  that  no  one  was  near,  that  she 
was  alone  and  unobserved,  she  turned  aside  into  the 
bushes,  and,  following  a  narrow,  overgrown  path,  at  last 
arrived  at  the  garden  wall,  where  she  remained  standing 
before  a  small  door  for  a  moment,  listening  with  sup- 
pressed breathing.  Hearing  nothing,  she  clapped  her 
hands  three  times,  and  listened  again.  And  now  a  repeti- 
tion of  her  signal  could  be  heard  from  the  other  side,  and 
she  cried  in  clear  and  silvery  tones,  "  Good-morning, 
good-morning !  "  A  deep,  manly  voice  returned  her  greet- 
ing from  the  other  side  of  the  wall. 

"  It  is  he !  "  murmured  the  lady,  and  quickly  drawing 
a  key  from  her  pocket,  she  opened  the  door. 

The  man  who  had  been  standing  outside  sprang  for- 
ward through  the  open  gate,  and,  bowing  low  to  the  lady, 
pressed  her  proffered  hand  to  his  lips. 

"  Good-morning,  Count  Manteuffel,"  said  she,  smiling. 
"Eeally  you  are  as  punctual  as  if  coming  to  a  rendez- 
vous with  your  lady  love." 

"Tempi  passati!"  sighed  the  count.  "I  am  mar- 
ried." 

"So  am  I,"  said  the  lady,  laughing;  "that  is,  how- 
ever, no  reason  why " 

"You  should  not  still  have  ardent  and  devoted  ad- 
mirers," said  the  count,  interrupting  her.  "  But  you  are 
still  young  and  beautiful,  while  I  have  grown  old.  Tell 
me,  kind  lady,  by  what  art  you  have  preserved  the  charm- 
ing freshness  of  youth,  and  those  bright  and  sparkling 
eyes  by  which  I  was  so  completely  enslaved  when  I  still 
had  a  heart  ?  " 

The  lady  gave  him  a  penetrating,  mocking  look, 
"  Count  Manteuffel,"  said  she,  "  you  are  so  friendly,  and 
your  adoration  is  of  so  profound  a  nature,  that  you  un- 


48  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

doubtedly  have  some  very  particular  favor  to  solicit  at 
my  hands.  But  come,  let  us  enter  that  little  pavilion; 
there  we  will  find  comfortable  seats,  and  be  secure  from 
all  interruption." 

They  passed  silently  along  the  wall  to  the  pavilion,  to 
which  the  same  key  gave  access  which  had  before  opened 
the  garden  door. 

"  Here  we  are  safe,"  said  the  lady,  throwing  back  the 
lace  veil  which  had  concealed  her  face.  "  Come,  count, 
let  us  be  seated;  and  now  tell  me  why  you  desired  this 
meeting,  and  why  it  is  that  your  valet  was  not  sent  as 
usual  to  deliver  your  letters  and  to  receive  mine  ?  " 

"  I  had  an  irresistible  longing  to  see  you,  to  behold 
once  more  your  lovely  countenance,"  said  the  count,  with 
a  deep  sigh. 

"  But  just  now  you  said  you  had  no  heart,"  said  the 
lady,  laughing. 

"  You  are  the  enchantress  who  recalls  it  to  life. 
Really  you  do  credit  to  your  name,  and,  thanks  to  Madame 
Brandt,  my  heart  is  again  in  flames." 

"  Count,  it  is  very  evident  that  you  are  now  playing  a 
part  to  which  you  are  not  accustomed,"  exclaimed  Ma- 
dame Brandt,  laughing.  "  When  you  attempt  to  act  the 
lover  you  become  insipid,  while  your  are  known  and  ac- 
knowledged to  be  one  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  ingen- 
ious of  diplomatists.  But  no  diplomatic  subterfuges  with 
me,  I  pray.  Let  us  waste  no  time  on  the  shell,  but  to  the 
kernel  at  once !  What  do  you  require  of  me  ?  In  my  last 
letter  I  gave  you  an  accurate  account  of  the  state  of 
affairs  at  court,  and  also  of  the  state  of  my  finances, 
which  is  precisely  that  of  the  prince  royal's;  that  is,  his 
purse  is  as  empty  as  mine." 

"  And  both  of  you  have  an  empress  who  is  only  too 
happy  to  have  the  privilege  of  supplying  this  deficiency," 
said  Count  Manteuffel,  drawing  forth  a  well-filled  purse, 
through  the  silken  meshes  of  which  gold  glittered,  and 


AKD  HIS  COURT.  49 

presenting  it  to  the  lady.  "  I  am  only  sorry  to  say  there 
are  several  empresses  who  have  the  inestimable  privilege 
of  assisting  the  prince  royal  and  Madame  Brandt." 

"What  do  you  mean,  count?  We  no  longer  under- 
stand each  other,  and  I  beg  of  you  not  to  speak  in  riddles, 
which  I  am  not  prepared  to  solve." 

"  I  mean  to  say  that  the  prince  royal,  in  his  moneyed 
embarrassments,  no  longer  addresses  himself  to  the  Em- 
press of  Austria,  although  she,  as  his  nearest  relative,  as 
the  aunt  of  the  princess  royal,  has  undoubtedly  the  first 
claim  to  his  confidence." 

"  But  perhaps  the  purse  of  the  Empress  of  Austria  is 
insufiicient  to  meet  his  demands,"  said  Madame  von 
Brandt. 

"  He  should  first  have  tested  the  purse  of  the  empress, 
as  he  frequently  did  in  former  times — in  times  when  not 
only  the  prince  royal,  but  also  his  sister  of  Bairout,  ex- 
perienced the  generosity  of  their  imperial  aunt.  But 
the  prince  royal  readily  forgets  the  benefits  which  he  has 
received." 

"  That  he  does,"  sighed  Madame  von  Brandt.  "  We 
poor  women  are  the  greatest  sufferers.  He  has  loved  us 
all,  and  forgotten  us  all." 

"All?"  asked  Count  Manteuffel. 

"All,  count!  We  are  nothing  more  to  him  than  the 
plaything  of  an  idle  hour;  he  then  wearies  of  us,  and 
throws  us  aside.  There  is  but  one  whom  he  truly  loves 
and  constantly." 

"  And  this  lady's  name  ?  " 

"  The  flute,  count !  Ah,  you  looked  sadly  crestfallen. 
True,  this  lady  cannot  be  bribed,  either  with  Austrian 
gold  or  with  the  flattery  of  the  skilful  Count  Manteuffel; 
she  is  always  discreet,  always  mysterious;  she  never  be- 
trays her  lover.  Ah,  count,  we  might  both  learn  some- 
thing from  this  noble  flute.  Yes,  believe  me,  I  would  try 
to  be  like  her,  if,  unfortunately,  I  did  not  need  so  many 


60  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT. 

things  for  which  a  flute  has  no  use,  and  if  the  glitter 
of  Austrian  gold  were  not  so  alluring.  But  you,  Count 
Manteuffel,*  why  are  you  not  like  the  flute?  Why  have 
you  spies  and  eavesdroppers  at  all  places?  Why  are 
you  an  Austrian  spy  at  the  court  of  Prussia — you  who 
have  wealth,  rank,  and  standing  which  should  place  you 
above  such  paltry  considerations  ?  " 

Count  Manteuffel's  brow  darkened,  and  he  compressed 
his  lips  angrily.  But  he  quickly  subdued  this  momentary 
irritation,  and  was  once  more  the  affable,  easy,  and  at- 
tentive diplomat. 

"  I  serve  the  Austrian  court  from  inclination,"  said 
he,  "  from  preference,  and  certainly  with  honest  inten- 
tions. I  serve  that  court,  because  I  am  deeply  convinced 
that  upon  Austria  devolves  the  privilege  and  duty  of  de- 
throning all  other  German  princes,  and  uniting  all  Ger- 
many under  one  government,  of  converting  Austria  into 
Germany.  Prussia  must  then  cease  to  exist  in  Austria, 
and  must  bend  the  knee  as  a  vassal.  That  is  my  politi- 
cal conviction,  and  I  act  in  accordance  with  it." 

"  And  for  this  political  conviction  you  receive  Aus- 
trian gold  and  Austrian  decorations,"  observed  Madame 
von  Brandt,  laughing.  "  For  the  sake  of  your  political 
conviction  you  have  spies  at  all  points,  at  the  court  of 
Potsdam,  at  the  court  of  Dresden,  and  even  here  at  the 
little  court  at  Rheinsberg.  Not  satisfied  with  having 
bought  over  the  prince  royal's  cook,  and  induced  him  to 
keep  a  diary  for  your  inspection,*  you  have  also  succeeded 
in  securing  the  services  of  that  humble  and  modest  little 
person,  Madame  von  Brandt,  who  well  knows  that  all  this 
costs  your  Grace  a  considerable  amount  of  money.  And 
now  you  wish  to  make  me  believe  that  you  do  these  things 
on  account  of  your  political  conviction.  Softly,  my  dear 
count!  I,  too,  am  a  little  diplomat,  and  have  my  con- 
victions, and  one  of  these  is,  that  Count  Manteuffel  has 

*  *'  Youth  of  Frederick  the  Great,"  by  Preuss,  page  132. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  51 

but  one  passion,  and  that  is,  to  play  a  political  role,  and 
to  make  as  much  money  in  that  way  as  he  possibly  can. 
And  to  the  good  Count  Manteuffel  it  is  a  matter  of  per- 
fect indifference  whether  this  money  comes  from  Prus- 
sian or  from  Austrian  sources." 

"  And  why  these  amiable  pleasantries  ? "  said  the 
count,  with  a  forced  smile. 

"  They  mean,  my  dear  count,  that  this  miserable  act- 
ing should  cease;  that  we  should  lay  aside  our  masks, 
and  deal  with  each  other  truly  and  sincerely,  when  alone, 
as  we  are  at  present.  I  serve  you,  because  I  am  paid  for 
it;  you  serve  Austria,  because  you  are  paid  for  it.  If, 
in  time  of  need,  you  were  not  at  hand  with  a  well-filled 
purse,  I  would  cease  to  serve  you;  and  you  would  no 
longer  be  enthusiastic  on  the  subject  of  Austrian  domin- 
ion, if  Austria's  money  should  cease  to  flow  into  your 
coffers.  And  now,  my  dear  count,  I  believe  we  under- 
stand each  other;  and,  without  further  circumlocution, 
what  do  you  require  of  me — what  have  you  to  com- 
municate ?  " 

"  I  must  speak  with  you  on  matters  of  very  grave  im- 
portance." 

"  I  knew  it !  your  flattery  betrayed  you,"  said  Madame 
Brandt.     "Well,  begin." 

"  First  of  all,  my  dear  baroness,  you  must  know  that 
the  prince  royal  will  in  a  few  days  be  king." 

"ISTot  so,  count;  a  courier  arrived  yesterday  evening 
with  the  intelligence  that  his  majesty  was  much  better. 
The  prince  royal  is  so  rejoiced  that  he  has  determined  to 
give  a  fete  in  honor  of  Madame  von  Morien  to-day." 

"  Does  the  prince  royal  still  love  this  lady  ?  " 

"  I  told  you  before  that  he  loved  his  flute  alone,"  said 
Madame  Brandt. 

"  Does  he  not,  then,  love  the  princess  royal  ? " 

"  ISTo !  And  perhaps  he  would  not  love  her  even  if 
she  were  changed  into  a  flute.    He  would  probably  say  to 


52  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

Quantz,  *  It  is  not  made  of  good  wood,  and  has  a  bad 
tone/  and  would  lay  it  aside." 

"  And  do  you  believe  he  would  do  that  with  the  prin- 
cess? although  she  is  no  flute,  do  you  believe  he  would 
cast  her  aside  ?  " 

"  The  princess  dreads  it," 

"  And  so  does  the  empress !  " 

"  But  why  was  a  woman,  who  not  only  knows  nothing 
about  music,  but  has  a  hoarse  and  discordant  voice,  and 
who  articulates  so  indistinctly  that  the  prince  royal  could 
not  understand  her  were  she  to  say  the  wittiest  things 
imaginable,  why  should  such  a  woman  have  been  given 
as  a  wife  to  a  prince  of  such  remarkable  musical  pro- 
clivities? One  does  not  marry  a  woman  merely  to  look 
at  her." 

"  Then  you  believe  the  prince  royal  will  separate  him- 
self from  his  wife  as  soon  as  he  obtains  his  freedom,  that 
is,  when  he  becomes  king  ? "  observed  Count  Manteuffel, 
thoughtfully. 

"  Of  that  I  know  nothing,  count.  The  prince  never 
speaks  of  his  wife,  even  to  his  most  intimate  friends; 
and  in  his  tenderest  moments  Madame  Morien  herself 
endeavors  in  vain  to  obtain  some  information  on  this 
subject." 

"  The  prince  is  very  discreet  and  very  suspicious. 
Madame  Morien  must  be  bought  over,"  murmured  the 
count. 

"  That  will  be  a  difficult  task,"  said  Madame  Brandt. 
"  She  is  unfortunately  very  rich,  and  attaches  but  little 
importance  to  money.  I  know  of  but  one  means.  Pro- 
cure for  her  a  lover  who  is  handsomer,  more  ardent,  and 
more  passionate  than  the  prince  royal,  and  she  can  be 
won!  For  it  is  well  known  that  Madame  Morien  has  a 
very  susceptible  heart." 

"Baroness,  no  jesting,  if  you  please;  the  matters 
under  discussion  are  of  the  gravest  importance,  and  our 


AND  HIS  COURT.  53 

time  is  limited.  Madame  Morien  must  be  won  over. 
She  alone  can  influence  the  prince  through  his  heart,  and 
her  influence  must  be  exerted  to  prevent  a  separation  of 
the  prince  royal  from  his  wife.  You,  my  dear  baroness, 
must  induce  Madame  Morien  to  do  this;  you,  with  your 
bewitching  eloquence,  must  make  Madame  Morien  com- 
prehend that  this  is  the  only  means  of  doing  penance 
for  her  sinful  life,  and  that  her  only  chance  of  recon- 
ciliation with  Heaven  depends  upon  her  restoration  of 
the  faithless  husband  to  the  arms  of  his  noble  wife.  She 
could,  perhaps,  save  the  princess  royal  and  the  imperial 
court  the  disgrace  of  a  separation.  The  princess  must 
remain  the  wife  of  the  king.  This  is  the  only  tie  which 
can  bind  the  king  to  Austria.  The  prince  is  surrounded 
by  the  enemies  of  Austria,  of  whom  Suhm  is  the  most 
dangerous." 

"  Well,  he,  at  least,  is  not  near  the  prince.  You  know 
that  he  is  the  ambassador  of  Saxony  at  the  court  of 
Petersburg." 

"  Therein  lies  the  main  difiiculty !  The  prince  royal 
places  unlimited  confidence  in  him,  they  correspond  in 
characters  which  we  have  vainly  endeavored  to  decipher; 
and  the  result  of  this  correspondence  is,  that  Suhm  has 
already  procured  the  prince  royal  a  loan  of  ten  thousand 
dollars  from  the  Duke  of  Courland,  and  that  he  has  now 
secured  him  the  annual  sum  of  twenty-four  thousand 
dollars  from  the  Empress  Anne.  These  payments  will 
continue  until  the  prince  ascends  the  throne;  the  first 
has  just  been  received."  * 

"  That  is  a  fable,"  exclaimed  Madame  Brandt,  laugh- 
ing. "  The  prince  is  as  poor  as  Job,  and  for  some  time 
past  has  been  literally  besieged  by  his  creditors !  " 

"  And  it  can  be  no  other  than  Russia  who  assists  him 
in  these  difficulties !  "  exclaimed  Count  Manteuffel,  in  de- 
spair.    "  We  must  leave  nothing  undone  to  lessen  the  in- 

*  CEuvres  de  Frederic  le  Grand,  vol.  xvL,  pp.  340,  356,  360,  384. 


54  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

fluence  of  this  dangerous  enemy,  and  to  win  Prussia  to 
Austrian  interests.  Germany  wishes  for  peace,  and  Prus- 
sia and  Austria  must  be  on  good  terms.  If  Prussia  and 
Austria  were  to  take  up  arms  against  each  other,  the  bal- 
ance of  power  in  Europe  would  be  destroyed,  and  a  war 
would  be  inaugurated  which,  perhaps,  for  years  would 
deluge  Germany  with  blood  and  tears!  Austria  will  do 
all  that  lies  in  her  power  to  avoid  this;  and  we,  my  dear 
friend,  will  be  Austria's  allies,  and  will  assist  her  to  the 
best  of  our  ability.  Russia  has  given  Prussia  money, 
it  is  true,  but  an  indebtedness  of  this  kind  ceases  the  mo- 
ment the  money  is  returned.  When  the  prince  royal  aS' 
cends  the  throne,  he  will  pay  to  Russia  what  he  owes  her, 
and  with  that  all  obligations  will  be  at  an  end.  Then  an- 
other tie  must  be  found  to  bind  Austria  more  firmly  to 
Prussia.  And  you  must  help  to  weave  this  tie.  The 
prince  royal  must  never  be  separated  from  his  wife !  The 
future  queen  of  Prussia  will  then  be  the  niece  of  the 
empress.  The  duties  of  a  nephew  will  consequently  de- 
volve on  the  king.  To  unite  the  two  houses  more  closely, 
another  marriage  must  be  brought  about.  The  Prince 
Augustus  William,  the  presumptive  heir  of  the  prince 
royal,  must,  like  the  latter,  espouse  a  princess  of  the 
house  of  Brunswick — a  sister  of  the  princess  royal." 

"  That  is  impossible ! "  exclaimed  Madame  Brandt, 
with  vivacity. 

"  Impossible  ?     Why  impossible  ?  " 

"  Because  the  heart  of  the  Prince  Augustus  William 
is  already  filled  with  a  deep  and  passionate  love-^a  love 
which  would  even  touch  you,  that  is,  if  you  are  suscep- 
tible to  pity." 

"  My  dear  madame,  we  are  speaking  of  affairs  of 
State,  and  you  discourse  of  love!  What  have  politics  to 
do  with  love?  The  prince  may  love  whom  he  will,  pro- 
vided he  marries  the  Princess  of  Brunswick." 

"But  his  is  a  great  and  noble,  a  real  love,  count — a 


AND  HIS  COURT.  55 

love  over  which  we  have  no  power,  in  which  the  devil  had 
no  hand;  a  love  as  pure  as  Heaven,  and  deserving  of 
Heaven's  blessing!  You  must  give  this  plan  up,  count; 
the  Prince  Augustus  William  will  never  marry  the  Prin- 
cess of  Brunswick.  He  is  far  too  noble  to  give  his  hand 
without  his  heart,  and  that  is  devoted  to  the  beautiful 
Laura  von  Pannewitz." 

"A  prince  of  the  blood  who  loves  a  little  maid  of 
honor,  and  wishes  to  marry  her?"  exclaimed  von  Man- 
teuffel,  laughing  loudly.  "  How  romantic !  how  sublime ! 
what  excellent  materials  for  a  sentimental  romance !  My 
dear  baroness,  I  congratulate  you!  This  discovery  does 
all  honor  to  your  poetical  temperament." 

"  Mock  me,  if  you  will,  count ;  but  I  repeat,  neverthe- 
less. Prince  Augustus  William  will  not  marry  the  Prin- 
cess of  Brunswick,  for  he  loves  the  beautiful  maid  of 
honor  of  the  queen,  and  is  determined  to  make  her  his 
wife." 

"  We  will  know  how  to  break  this  determination,"  said 
Count  Manteuflfel.  "  The  prince  royal  will  assist  us,  de- 
pend upon  it.  He  is  not  an  enthusiastic  lover,  like  Au- 
gustus William,  and  will  never  consent  to  his  brother's 
making  a  misalliance." 

"  And  I  tell  you,  the  prince  would  rather  die  than  give 
up  the  beautiful  Laura." 

"  Well,  then  she  must  give  him  up,"  said  Count  Man- 
teuffel,  with  cruel  composure. 

"Poor  Laura,"  said  Madame  Brandt,  with  a  sigh, 
"she  loves  him  so  dearly!  it  will  break  her  heart  to  lose 
him." 

"  Pshaw !  the  heart  of  every  woman  is  broken  one  or 
more  times,  but  it  always  heals  again,  and  when  warmed 
by  a  new  love,  the  old  scars  disappear  entirely.  You, 
dear  baroness,  have  experienced  this  in  yourself.  Have 
you  no  recollection  of  the  days  of  our  ardent  and  pas- 
sionate love?    Did  we  not  expect  to  die  when  we  were 


56  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

separated?  Did  we  not  wring  our  hands,  and  pray  for 
death  as  a  relief?  And  are  we  not  still  living,  to  smile 
pityingly  at  the  pangs  we  then  endured,  and  to  remember 
how  often  we  have  experienced  delight,  how  often  love  has 
since  triumphed  in  our  hearts  ?  " 

"  It  is  true,"  sighed  Madame  Brandt,  "  we  outlive  our 
sorrows;  the  heart  of  women  resembles  the  worm — it 
still  lives  and  quivers,  although  cut  in  pieces." 

"  Well,"  said  Count  Manteuffel,  laughing,  "  the  heart 
of  Laura  von  Pannewitz  is  merely  a  worm,  and  we  will 
not  hesitate  to  cut  it  in  pieces,  as  it  will  still  live  merrily 
on.  You,  my  dear  friend,  shall  be  the  knife  which  per- 
forms the  operation.     Are  you  willing  ? " 

For  a  moment  Madame  Brandt  looked  down  sadly, 
and  seemed  lost  in  thought. 

"  True,"  she  murmured,  "  we  outlive  it,  but  the  best 
part  of  our  being  is  destroyed!  I  should  never  have  be- 
come what  I  am,  if  I  had  not  been  ruthlessly  torn  from 
my  first  dream  of  love.  We  will  not  kill  Laura  von  Pan- 
newitz's  body,  but  her  soul  will  suffer ! " 

"  And  as  it  is  not  our  province  to  look  after  souls,  that 
need  give  us  no  care;  a  political  necessity  demands  that 
Prince  Augustus  William  shall  marry  the  Princess  of 
Brunswick.  It  demands,  moreover,  that  the  prince  royal 
shall  not  be  divorced  from  his  wife,  but  that  the  niece  of 
the  empress  shall  be  Queen  of  Prussia.  In  both  of  these 
affairs  we  need  your  assistance.  You  must  closely  watch 
the  Prince  Augustus  William  and  his  lady  love,  and,  at 
the  proper  time,  bring  the  affair  to  light.  By  your  elo- 
quence you  must  convince  Madame  Morien  that  it  is  her 
duty  to  exert  her  influence  with  the  prince  royal  to  pre- 
vent his  separation  from  his  wife.  This  is  your  task, 
and  a  noble  task  it  is.  Its  objects  are — to  protect  the 
peace  of  married  life;  to  recall  two  noble  hearts  to  the 
duties  which  they  owe  to  the  world;  and  lastly,  to  create 
a  new  bond  of  union  between  two  mighty  German  powers. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  57 

The  wife  of  the  Emperor  Charles  VI.,  the  noble  empress, 
will  not  be  ungrateful  to  her  ally,  Madame  Brandt.  On 
the  day  on  which  Prince  William  espouses  the  Princess 
Louisa  Amelia  of  Brunswick,  Madame  Brandt  will  re- 
ceive a  present  of  twenty  thousand  dollars  from  the  em- 
press." 

The  countenance  of  Madame  Brandt  was  radiant  with 
pleasure  and  delight. 

"  The  prince  shall  and  will  marry  the  Princess  Louisa 
Amelia — my  word  for  it.  I  am  then  to  be  the  demon 
who,  with  his  poisonous  breath,  destroys  this  romantic, 
this  beautiful  love ;  the  evil  genius  who  drives  fair  Laura 
to  despair.  But  why  should  I  pity  her?  She  suffers  the 
fate  of  all  women — my  fate.  Who  pitied,  who  saved  me? 
No  one  listened  to  my  cry  of  anguish,  and  no  one  shall 
heed  the  wailing  cry  of  the  fair  Laura  von  Pannewitz. 
Count,  she  is  condemned !  But,  hark !  Do  you  not  hear 
faint  tones  of  distant  music?  The  prince  royal  has 
arisen,  and  is  playing  the  flute  at  his  open  window.  We 
must  now  separate;  the  garden  will  soon  be  full  of  peo- 
ple, and  we  are  no  longer  safe  from  intrusion.  A  boat- 
ride  on  the  lake  is  in  contemplation  for  the  early  morning 
hours,  and  then  Chazot  will  read  Voltaire's  last  drama  to 
the  assembled  court." 


CHAPTER   IX. 

FREDERICK,  THE   PRINCE   ROYAL. 

Madame  Brandt  was  not  mistaken;  the  prince  royal 
was  awake,  and  was  bringing  a  tribute  to  beautiful, 
sunny  Nature  in  return  for  the  sweetly-scented  air  that 
came  through  his   window.     There  he   stood,   with  the 


58  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

flute  at  his  lips,  and  looked  out  at  God's  lovely,  laughing 
world  with  a  sparkling  eye  and  joyful  countenance.  A 
cheerful  quiet,  a  holy  peace  radiated  from  his  beautiful 
face;  his  whole  being  seemed  bathed  in  perfect  harmony 
and  contentment,  and  the  soft,  melting  tones  of  his  flute 
but  echoed  his  thoughts.  Suddenly  he  ceased  playing, 
and  slightly  bowed  his  head  to  catch  the  sweet,  dying 
notes  that  were  still  trembling  in  the  air. 

"  That  was  good,"  said  he,  smiling,  "  and  I  believe  I 
can  note  it  down  without  exciting  the  anger  of  Quantz." 
He  took  his  flute  again,  and  softly  repeated  the  air  he 
had  just  finished.  "  I  will  write  it  immediately,  and  play 
it  this  evening  before  my  critical  musicians." 

While  speaking,  Frederick  left  his  bedroom,  and 
passed  into  his  library.  On  entering  this  room,  a  beauti- 
ful smile  flitted  over  his  face,  and  he  bowed  his  head  as 
if  saluting  some  one.  It  would  be  impossible  to  imagine 
a  more  charming  and  tasteful  room.  It  had  been  ar- 
ranged according  to  the  directions  of  the  prince  royal,  and 
was  in  a  great  degree  a  true  portrait  of  himself,  a  temple 
which  he  had  erected  to  art,  science,  and  friendship. 

This  room  was  in  the  new  tower,  and  its  circular  form 
gave  it  a  peculiar  appearance.  It  was  most  appropriately 
compared  to  a  temple.  High  glass  cases  around  the  walls 
contained  the  works  of  Voltaire,  Racine,  Moliere,  and 
Corneille;  those  of  Homer,  Csesar,  Cicero,  and  Ovid; 
also  the  Italian  poets  Dante,  Petrarch,  and  Machiavel. 
All  that  had  a  good  name  in  the  literary  world  found  its 
way  into  the  library  of  the  royal  prince — all,  excepting 
the  works  of  German  authors. 

Between  the  book-cases,  the  shelves  of  which  were  or- 
namented here  and  there  with  busts  of  celebrated  writers, 
were  alcoves,  in  which  stood  small  satin  damask  sofas, 
over  which  hung,  in  heavily-gilt  frames,  the  portraits  of 
Frederick's  friends  and  contemporaries. 

The  largest  and  most  beautiful  was  one  of  "Voltaire. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  59 

He  had  received  the  honored  place;  and  when  Frederick 
raised  his  eyes  from  his  work,  while  sitting  at  his  escri- 
toire, they  rested  upon  the  smiling  face  of  the  talented 
French  writer,  whom  the  prince  royal  had  selected  as  his 
favorite,  and  with  whom  he  had  for  many  years  corre- 
sponded. 

The  prince  went  with  hasty  steps  to  his  tahle,  and, 
without  noticing  the  sealed  letters  that  were  lying  there, 
he  took  a  piece  of  lined  paper,  and  began  to  write,  hum- 
ming softly  the  melody  he  had  just  composed.  He  oc- 
casionally threw  down  his  pen,  and  took  the  flute  that 
was  lying  at  his  side,  to  try,  before  noting  them,  different 
accords  and  passages. 

"  It  is  finished  at  last,"  said  the  prince,  laying  aside 
his  pen.  "My  adagio  is  finished,  and  I  think  Quantz 
will  have  no  excuse  for  grumbling  to-day;  he  must  be 
contented  with  his  pupil.  This  adagio  is  good;  I  feel  it; 
I  know  it;  and  if  the  Bendas  assume  their  usual  artist 
airs,  I  will  tell  them — ;  no,  I  will  tell  them  nothing,"  said 
the  prince,  smiling.  "  It  is  useless  to  show  those  gentle- 
men that  I  care  for  their  approval,  or  court  their  ap- 
plause. Ours  is  a  pitiful  race,  and  I  see  the  time  ap- 
proaching when  I  shall  despise  and  mistrust  the  whole 
world;  and  still  my  heart  is  soft,  and  gives  a  warm  ap- 
proval to  all  that  is  great  and  beautiful,  and  it  would 
make  me  very  happy  to  love  and  trust  my  fellow-men; 
but  they  do  not  desire  it — they  would  not  appreciate  it. 
Am  I  not  surrounded  by  spies,  who  watch  all  my  move- 
ments, listen  to  every  word  I  utter,  and  then  pour  their 
poison  into  the  ear  of  the  king?  B\it  enough  of  this," 
said  the  prince,  after  a  pause.  "  This  May  air  makes 
me  dreamy.  Away  with  these  cobwebs !  I  have  not  time 
to  sigh  or  dream." 

He  arose,  and  walked  hastily  up  and  down  his  room, 
then  approached  the  escritoire,  and  took  the  letters.  As 
his  eye  fell  on  the  first,  he  smiled  proudly. 


60  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  From  Voltaire,"  he  murmured  softly,  breaking  the 
seal,  and  hastily  opening  the  enclosure,  which  contained 
two  letters  and  several  loose  scraps  of  printed  matter. 
The  prince  uttered  a  cry  of  joyful  astonishment,  and 
scarcely  noticing  the  two  letters,  he  gazed  with  a  half- 
tender,  half-curious  expression  on  the  printed  papers  he 
held  in  his  hand. 

"  At  last !  at  last !  "  exclaimed  the  prince,  "  my  wish 
will  be  accomplished.  The  first  step  toward  fame  is 
taken.  I  shall  no  longer  be  unknown,  or  only  known  as 
the  son  of  a  king,  the  inheritor  of  a  throne.  I  shall  have 
a  name.  I  shall  acquire  renown,  for  I  will  be  a  poet,  an 
author,  and  shall  claim  a  place  in  the  republic  of  genius. 
I  shall  not  need  a  crown  to  preserve  my  name  in  history. 
The  first  step  is  taken.  My  '  Anti-Machiavel '  is  in  press. 
I  will  tread  under  foot  this  monster  of  knavish  and  dia- 
bolic statecraft,  and  all  Europe  shall  see  that  a  German 
prince  is  the  first  to  break  a  lance  against  this  Machiavel, 
who  is  making  the  people  the  slaves  of  princes.  By  his 
vile  principles,  he  is  moulding  princes  into  such  monsters 
that  all  mankind  must  curse  them." 

And  again  looking  at  the  paper,  the  prince  read  a 
few  lines,  his  voice  trembling  with  displeasure: 

"  If  it  is  a  crime  to  destroy  the  innocence  of  a  private 
individual  who  exercises  a  limited  influence,  is  it  not  far 
worse  to  undermine  the  moral  character  of  princes  who 
should  exhibit  to  their  subjects  an  example  of  goodness, 
greatness,  kindness,  and  love?  The  plagues  sent  by 
Heaven  are  but  passing,  and  destroy  only  in  certain 
localities;  and  although  most  disastrous,  their  effects 
pass  away  in  time.  But  the  vices  of  kings  create  incur- 
able misery;  yes,  misery  enduring  for  generations.  How 
deplorable  is  the  condition  of  nations  who  have  every 
evil  to  fear  from  their  ruler,  their  property  exposed  to 
the  covetousness  of  a  prince,  their  freedom  to  his  humor, 
and  their  lives  to  his  cruelty !  " 


AND  HIS  COURT.  Ql 

Frederick  ceased,  and  turned  over  a  few  pages  of  his 
"  Anti-Machiavel,"  and  then  continued  to  read : 

"  Machiavel  speaks  in  his  '  Principe '  of  miniature 
sovereigns,  who,  having  but  small  states,  can  send  no 
armies  to  the  field.  The  author  advises  them  to  fortify 
their  capitals,  and  in  time  of  war  to  confine  themselves 
and  their  troops  to  them. 

"  The  Italian  princes,  of  whom  Machiavel  speaks, 
only  play  the  part  of  men  before  their  servants.  Most 
of  the  smaller  princes,  and  especially  those  of  Germany, 
ruin  themselves  by  spending  sums  far  exceeding  their 
revenues,  and  thus  by  vanity  are  led  to  want.  Even  the 
youngest  scion  of  the  least  important  salaried  prince 
imagines  himself  as  great  as  Louis.  He  builds  his  Ver- 
sailles, and  sustains  his  army.  There  is  in  reality  a 
certain  salaried  prince  of  a  noble  house,  who  has  in  his 
service  all  the  varieties  of  guards  that  usually  form  the 
households  of  great  kings,  but  all  on  so  minute  a  scale 
that  it  is  necessary  to  employ  a  microscope  to  distinguish 
each  separate  corps,  and  whose  army  is  perhaps  strong 
enough  to  represent  a  battle  on  the  stage  of  Verona." 

Prince  Frederick  laughed  aloud.  "  Well,  I  think  my 
most  worthy  cousin,  Ernest  Augustus,  of  S  axe- Weimar, 
will  understand  this  allusion,  and  in  gratitude  for  my 
giving  his  name  to  posterity  in  my  '  Anti-Machiavel,'  will 
unravel  the  mystery,  and  inform  the  world  how  it  is  pos- 
sible, with  the  annual  income  of  four  hundred  dollars, 
to  keep  a  retinue  of  seven  hundred  men,  a  squadron  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty,  and  a  company  of  cavalry;  if  he 
is  capable  of  accomplishing  this,  without  plunging  into 
debt,  he  is  certainly  my  superior,  and  I  could  learn  a 
great  deal  from  him.  I  could  learn  of  him  how  to  rid 
myself  of  this  torment  that  I  endure  from  day  to  day, 
from  hour  to  hour.  What  could  be  a  greater  degradation 
to  an  honorable  man  than  to  be  compelled  to  flatter  the 
base  pride  of  these  vile  usurers  to  whom  I  am  forced  to 


62  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

resort  for  the  money  I  need ;  this  money  pressed,  perhaps, 
from  widows  and  orphans  ?  To  think  that  I,  the  inheritor 
of  a  kingdom,  am  in  this  condition — that  I  must  lower 
myself  to  sue  and  plead  before  these  men,  while  millions 
are  lying  in  the  cellars  of  my  father's  palace  at  Berlin! 
But  what !  Have  I  the  right  to  complain  ?  am  I  the  only 
one  who  suffers  from  the  closeness  of  the  king?  are  not 
the  people  of  Berlin  crying  for  bread,  whilst  the  royal 
larder  is  filled  to  overflowing?  But  patience!  the  day 
will  come  when  the  keys  will  be  in  my  hands — on  that 
day  I  will  give  the  people  what  rightly  belongs  to  them, 
bread.  I  will  unlock  the  treasury,  and  set  free  the  im- 
prisoned millions.  But  what  noise  is  this  ? "  said  the 
prince,  approaching  the  door. 

Loud  and  angry  voices  were  heard  from  without.  "  I 
tell  you  I  must  and  will  speak  with  the  prince  royal," 
cried  a  threatening  voice ;  "  I  have  waited  in  vain  for 
two  months,  in  vain  addressed  to  him  the  most  modest 
and  respectful  letters;  I  have  not  even  been  deemed 
worthy  to  receive  an  answer.  !N"ow  I  have  come  to  re- 
ceive it  in  person,  and  I  swear  I  will  not  leave  this  spot 
without  an  explanation  with  the  prince  royal." 

"  It  is  Ephrs,im,"  muttered  Frederick,  with  a  deep 
frown. 

"  Well,  you  can  stand  here  until  you  become  a  pillar 
of  salt,  like  your  great-grandmother  of  old,"  cried  an- 
other voice. 

"  This  is  Knobelsdorf,"  said  Frederick. 

"  The  idea  is  good,"  said  the  first  voice,  "  but  it  is  not 
I  who  will  become  a  pillar  of  salt,  but  others  will  from 
fright  and  terror,  when  I  come  with  my  avenging  sword; 
for  justice  I  will  have,  and  if  I  do  not  obtain  it  here,  I 
shall  go  and  demand  it  of  the  king." 

"  From  the  king !  you  do  not  know,  then,  that  his  maj- 
esty is  dying  ?  " 

"  Not  so,  not  so !  if  that  were  so,  I  would  not  be  here; 


AND  HIS  COURT.  63 

I  would  have  waited  quietly  for  that  justice  from  the  new 
king  which  I  demanded  in  vain  from  the  prince  royal. 
The  king  is  recovering;  I  saw  him  in  his  arm-chair  in 
the  garden;  for  this  reason  I  insist  on  speaking  to  the 
prince." 

"  But  if  I  tell  you  his  royal  highness  is  still  asleep  ? " 

"  I  would  not  believe  you,  for  I  heard  him  playing  on 
his  flute." 

"That  was  Quantz." 

"  Quantz !  he  is  not  capable  of  playing  such  an  adagio ; 
no,  no,  it  could  only  have  been  the  prince  royal." 

"  Ah !  this  man  wishes  to  bribe  me  with  his  flattery," 
said  the  prince,  smiling,  "  and  make  me  believe  I  am 
an  Orpheus.  Orpheus  tamed  lions  and  tigers  with  his 
music,  but  my  flute  is  not  even  capable  of  taming  a 
creditor." 

"  But  I  say  it  was  Quantz,"  cried  the  poor  frightened 
Knobelsdorf ;  "  the  prince  still  sleeps,  or  is  in  bed,  for  he 
is  not  well,  and  gave  orders  to  admit  no  one." 

"  Ah !  I  know  all  about  that ;  noble  gentlemen  are  al- 
ways ill  if  they  have  to  breathe  the  same  air  with  their 
creditors,"  said  Ephraim,  with  a  mocking  smile ;  "  but  I 
tell  you  I  will  stay  here  until  I  have  spoken  to  the  prince, 
until  he  returns  me  four  thousand  dollars  that  I  lent  to 
him,  more  than  a  year  ago,  without  interest  or  security. 
I  must  and  will  have  my  money,  or  I  shall  be  ruined  my- 
self. The  prince  cannot  wish,  that ;  he  will  not  punish 
me  so  severely  for  the  kindness  and  pity  I  showed  to  him 
in  his  greatest  need." 

"  This  is  really  too  much,"  cried  Knobelsdorf ,  "  you 
are  shameless;  do  you  dare  to  speak  of  pity  for  the 
prince  royal?  do  you  dare  to  boast  of  having  lent  him 
money,  while  you  only  did  it  knowing  he  could  and  would 
repay  you  with  interest  ?  " 

"  If  Ephraim  knows  that,  he  is  cleverer  than  I  am," 
Baid  Frederick,  smiling  sadly ;  "  although  I  am  a  prince, 


64  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

I  do  not  know  how  to  get  the  miserable  sum  of  four 
thousand  dollars.  But  I  must  leave  poor  Knobelsdorf  no 
longer  in  this  condition;  I  must  quiet  this  uproar." 
And  he  hastened  toward  the  door,  as  the  noise  without  be- 
came louder  and  louder. 


CHAPTEE   X. 

THE  PRINCE  ROYAL  AND  THE  JEW. 

At  this  moment,  while  Knobelsdorf  was  threatening 
the  Jew  and  calling  the  servants  to  thrust  him  out,  the 
prince  royal  opened  the  door  and  showed  his  smiling  face 
to  the  two  combatants. 

"  Come  in,"  said  the  prince,  "  I  grant  you  the  audience 
you  so  importunately  demand." 

Frederick  stepped  quietly  back  in  his  room,  while 
Ephraim,  confused  and  humiliated  by  the  calm  dignity 
of  the  prince,  advanced  with  bowed  head  and  downcast 
eyes. 

"  Dear  Knobelsdorf,"  said  Frederick,  turning  to  his 
gasping  secretary,  who  stood  amazed  behind  the  Jew,  "  I 
pray  you  to  assemble  all  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  in  the 
garden;  we  are  going  yachting;  I  will  be  with  you  in 
five  minutes." 

"  Five  minutes,"  said  Ephraim  to  himself,  as  Knobels- 
'^rf  withdrew,  "  only  one  moment's  audience  for  every 
thousand  dollars!  This  is  a  proud  debtor;  I  would  have 
done  better  not  to  place  myself  in  his  power.  But  I  will 
not  be  frightened,  I  will  stand  up  boldly  for  my  rights !  " 

"  And  now,  what  have  you  to  say  to  me  ? "  said  the 
prince,  fixing  his  angry  eyes  upon  Ephraim. 

"  What  have  I  to  say  to  your  highness !  "  said  Ephraim, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  65 

astonished.  "  More  than  a  year  ago  I  lent  your  highness 
four  thousand  dollars!  I  have  as  yet  received  neither 
principal  nor  interest." 

"Well,  what  more?" 

"  What  more !  "  said  Ephraim. 

"  Yes,  what  more  ?  It  is  impossible  that  you  have 
come  from  Berlin  to  Eheinsberg  to  tell  me  what  I  have 
known  for  a  year  as  well  as  yourself." 

"  I  thought  your  highness  had  forgotten,"  said  the 
Jew,  fixing  his  eyes  upon  the  prince,  but  casting  them 
suddenly  to  the  floor,  as  he  met  the  flashing  glance  of 
Frederick. 

"  Forgotten,"  said  he,  shrugging  his  shoulders ;  "  I 
have  a  good  memory  for  every  act  of  kindness,  and  also 
for  every  offence  against  the  respect  and  reverence  due 
to  the  son  of  the  king." 

His  voice  was  so  harsh  and  threatening,  that  Ephraim 
trembled  in  his  inmost  heart,  and  stammered  some  words 
of  apology. 

"  My  prince,"  said  he,  "  I  am  a  Jew,  that  is  to  say  a 
despised,  reviled,  and  persecuted  man !  no — not  a  man, 
but  a  creature — kicked  like  a  dog  when  poor  and  suffer- 
ing, and  even  when  the  possessor  of  gold  and  treasures, 
scarcely  allowed  human  rights.  It  is  better  for  the  dogs 
than  for  the  Jews  in  Prussia !  A  dog  dare  have  its  young, 
and  rejoice  over  them,  but  the  Jews  dare  not  rejoice  over 
their  children!  The  law  of  the  land  hangs  like  a  sword 
over  them,  and  it  may  be  that  a  Jewess  may  be  driven  out 
of  Prussia  because  a  child  is  born  to  her,  only  a  specified 
number  of  Jews  being  allowed  in  this  enlightened  land! 
Perhaps  the  father  is  not  rich  enough  to  pay  the  thousand 
dollars  with  which  he  must  buy  the  right  to  be  a  father 
every  time  a  child  is  born  to  him!  For  this  reason  is 
gold,  and  again  gold,  the  only  wall  of  protection  which  a 
Jew  can  build  up  between  himself  and  wretchedness  I 
Gold  is  our  honor,  our  rank,  our  destiny,  our  family,  our 


66  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

home.  We  are  nothing  without  gold,  and  even  when  we 
extend  a  golden  hand,  there  is  no  hand  advanced  to  meet 
it  that  does  not  feel  itself  contaminated  by  the  touch 
of  a  Jew!  Judge,  then,  your  royal  highness,  how  much 
we  love,  how  highly  we  prize  one  to  whom  we  give  a  part 
of  our  happiness,  a  part  of  our  honor.  I  have  done  for 
you,  my  prince,  what  I  have  done  for  no  other  man. 
I  have  given  you  four  thousand  dollars,  without  security 
and  without  interest.  I  lent  to  Knobelsdorf,  for  the 
prince  royal,  upon  his  mere  word,  my  honest  gold,  and 
what  have  I  received?  My  letters,  in  which  I  humbly 
solicit  payment,  remain  unanswered.  I  am  mocked  and 
reviled — the  door  contemptuously  shut  in  my  face,  which 
door,  however,  was  most  graciously  opened  when  I 
brought  my  gold.  Such  conduct  is  neither  right  nor 
wise;  and  as  the  worm  turns  when  it  is  trodden  upon, 
so  is  there  also  a  limit  to  the  endurance  of  the  Jew.  He 
remembers  at  last  that  he  is  also  one  of  God's  creatures, 
and  that  God  himself  has  given  him  the  passion  of  re- 
venge as  well  as  the  passion  of  love.  The  Jew,  when 
too  long  mishandled,  revenges  himself  upon  his  torturers, 
and  that  will  I  also  do,  if  I  do  not  receive  justice  at  your 
hands.  That  will  I  also  do,  if  you  refuse  me  my  gold  to- 
day." 

"  You  have  made  a  lengthy  and  impertinent  speech !  " 
said  Frederick.  "  You  have  threatened  me !  But  I  will 
forgive  you,  because  you  are  a  Jew;  because  the  tongue 
is  the  only  weapon  a  Jew  has,  and  knows  how  to  use.  I 
now  advise  you  to  put  your  sword  in  its  sheath,  and  listen 
calmly  to  me.  It  is  true,  you  have  lent  me  four  thousand 
dollars  without  security  and  without  interest.  You  need 
not  extol  yourself  for  this,  for  you  well  know  it  is  not  the 
wish  or  the  intention  of  the  prince  royal  to  oppress  even 
the  most  pitiful  of  his  subjects,  or  to  withhold  the 
smallest  of  their  rights.  You  knew  this;  then  why  were 
you  not  satisfied  to  wait  until  I  sent  for  you? " 


AND  HIS   COURT.  67 

"  I  can  wait  no  longer,  your  highness,"  cried  Ephraim, 
passionately.  "  My  honor  and  credit  are  at  stake. 
Count  Knobelsdorf  gave  me  his  sacred  promise  that  at 
the  end  of  six  months  my  money  with  interest  should  be 
returned.  I  believed  him,  because  he  spoke  in  the  name 
of  the  prince  royal.  I  now  need  this  money  for  my  busi- 
ness. I  can  no  longer  do  without  it.  I  must  have  it  to- 
day." 

"  You  must  ?  I  say  you  shall  not  receive  one  penny 
of  it  to-day,  nor  to-morrow,  nor  for  weeks !  " 

"  If  your  highness  is  in  earnest,  I  must  go  elsewhere 
and  seek  redress." 

"  That  means  you  will  go  to  the  king." 

"  Yes,  your  highness,  I  will !  " 

"  Are  you  ignorant  of  the  law  by  which  all  are  for- 
bidden to  lend  money  to  the  princes  of  the  royal  house  ? " 

"  I  am  not  ignorant  of  that  law ;  but  I  know  that  the 
king  will  make  an  exception — that  he  will  pay  the  money 
I  lent  to  his  successor.  It  is  possible  I  may  feel  his 
crutch  upon  my  back,  but  blows  will  not  degrade  me. 
The  Jew  is  accustomed  to  blows  and  kicks — to  be  daily 
trodden  under  foot.  Even  if  the  king  beats  me,  he  will 
give  me  back  my  honor,  for  he  will  give  me  back  my 
gold." 

"  Suppose  that  he  also  refuses  you? " 

"  Then  I  will  raise  my  voice  until  it  is  heard  over  the 
whole  earth,"  cried  Ephraim,  passionately. 

"  Well,  then,  raise  your  voice  and  cry  out.  I  can 
give  you  no  gold  to-day." 

"  'No  gold  !  "  said  Ephraim.  "  Am  I  again  to  be  paid 
with  cunning  smiles  and  scornful  words  ?  You  will  with- 
hold my  gold  from  me?  Because  you  are  great  and  pow- 
erful, you  think  you  can  oppress  and  mistreat  a  poor  Jew 
with  impunity,  but  there  is  a  God  for  the  just  and  unjust, 
and  He " 

He   stopped.     Before   him   stood   Frederick,   blazing 


68  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

with  anger.  His  lips  were  pallid  and  trembling,  his  arm 
uplifted. 

"  Strike,  your  highness ! — strike !  "  cried  Ephraim, 
fiercely.  "  I  deserve  to  be  beaten,  for  I  was  a  fool,  and 
allowed  myself  to  be  dazzled  with  the  glory  of  lending  my 
gold  to  an  unhappy  but  noble  prince!  Strike  on,  your 
highness!  I  see  now  that  this  prince  is  but  a  man  like 
the  rest;  he  scorns  and  loathes  the  poor  Jew,  but  he  will 
borrow  his  money,  and  defraud  him  of  his  rights." 

Frederick's  arm  had  fallen,  and  a  soft  smile  played 
about  his  lips. 

"  ISTo,"  said  he,  "  you  shall  see  that  Frederick  is  not  a 
man  like  other  men.  This  day  you  shall  have  your 
money.  I  cannot  pay  you  in  money,  but  I  will  give  you 
jewels,  and  horses  from  the  stud  that  the  king  lately  gave 
me." 

"  Then  your  highness  has  really  no  money  ? "  said 
Ephraim,  thoughtfully.  "  It  was  not  then  to  frighten 
and  torment  the  poor  Jew  that  my  gold  was  denied  me. 
Can  it  be  possible  that  the  great  Prince  Frederick,  on 
whom  the  hopes  of  the  people  rest,  and  who  is  already 
dearly  loved  by  his  future  subjects,  can  be  without 
money?  Is  it  possible  that  he  suffers  like  other  men? 
My  God !  how  dare  we  poor  Jews  complain  when  the 
heir  to  a  throne  is  harassed  for  money,  and  must  enidure 
privations  ? " 

The  prince  was  not  listening  to  Ephraim;  he  had 
opened  a  closet,  and  taken  from  it  a  silver-bound  casket, 
and  was  gazing  intently  at  its  contents.  He  drew  forth  a 
large  diamond  cross  and  some  solitaires  and  approached 
the  Jew. 

"  Here  are  some  jewels,  I  think,  well  worth  your  four 
thousand  dollars;  sell  them  and  pay  yourself,"  said  the 
prince,  handing  him  the  sparkling  stones. 

Ephraim  pushed  the  prince's  hand  gently  back.  "^  I 
lent  gold,  and  gold  only  will  I  accept  in  payment." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  69 

The  prince  stamped  impatiently  upon  the  ground. 
"  I  told  you  I  had  no  gold !  " 

"  Then  I  cannot  receive  any,"  said  Ephraim,  passively. 
"  The  poor  Jew  will  wait  still  longer ;  he  will  give  to  the 
prince  royal  the  gold  which  he  needs,  and  of  which  the 
poor  Jew  still  has  a  little.  I  humbly  ask  your  highness  if 
you  would  not  like  to  borrow  another  thousand,  which  I 
will  gladly  lend  upon  one  condition." 

"  Well,  and  this  condition  ?  " 

"  Your  highness  is  to  pay  me  upon  the  spot  the  in- 
terest upon  the  four  thousand  in  ready  money?  Does 
your  highness  understand?  Just  now  you  wished  to  pay 
my  capital  with  diamonds  and  horses.  Will  you  give  me 
as  interest  a  few  costly  pearls — pearls  which  lie  hidden  in 
that  flute,  and  which  appear  at  your  magical  touch?  I 
will  count  this  as  ready  money !  " 

Frederick  came  nearer  to  Ephraim,  and  eyeing  him 
sternly,  he  said: 

"  Are  you  mocking  me  ?  Would  you  make  of  the 
prince  royal  a  travelling  musician,  who  must  play  before 

the  Jew,  in  order  to  soften  his  heart? — ^would  you ? 

Ah,  Fredersdorf,"  said  he,  interrupting  himself,  as  his 
valet  approached  him  in  a  dusty  travelling-suit,  "  have 
you  just  arrived  from  Berlin  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  highness ;  and  as  I  was  told  who  was  im- 
portuning your  highness,  I  came  in  without  changing  my 
dress.  The  banker  gave  me  this  package  for  you.  I  be- 
lieve it  is  from  Petersburg." 

"  From  Suhm,"  said  the  prince,  with  a  happy  smile, 
and  hastily  breaking  the  seal,  he  drew  from  the  package 
a  letter  and  several  books.  Casting  a  loving  glance  at  the 
letter,  he  laid  it  on  his  writing-table;  then  turning  away, 
so  as  not  to  be  seen  by  Ephraim,  he  took  up  the  two  books, 
and  looked  carefully  at  their  heavily-gilded  covers. 
Frederick  smiled,  and,  taking  a  penknife,  he  hastily  cut 
off  the  backs  of  the  books,  and  took  out  a  number  of 

MuHLBACH  4  Vol.   1 


TO  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

folded  papers.  As  the  prince  saw  them,  a  look  of  triumph 
passed  over  his  expressive  face. 

"  Ten  thousand  dollars !  "  said  he  to  himself.  "  The 
empress  and  the  Duke  Biron  have  fulfilled  their 
promise !  " 

Frederick  took  some  of  the  papers  in  his  hand,  and 
•walked  toward  Ephraim. 

"Here  are  your  four  thousand  dollars,  and  one  hun- 
dred interest.     Are  you  satisfied  ?  " 

"  No,  your  royal  highness,  I  am  not  satisfied !  I  am 
not  satisfied  with  myself.  When  I  came  to  Rheinsberg  I 
thought  I  had  been  wronged.  It  now  seems  to  me  that  I 
have  wronged  your  highness !  " 

"  Let  that  pass,"  said  Frederick.  "  A  prince  must  al- 
ways be  the  scapegoat  for  the  sin-offering  of  the  people. 
They  make  us  answerable  for  all  their  sufferings,  but  have 
no  sympathy  for  us  in  our  griefs.  I  owe  you  nothing 
more — you  can  go." 

Ephraim  bowed  silently,  and  turned  slowly  toward  the 
door.  The  eyes  of  the  prince  followed  him  with  a  kindly 
expression.  He  stepped  to  the  table,  and  took  up  his 
flute.  Ephraim  had  reached  the  door  of  the  ante-cham- 
ber, but  when  he  heard  the  soft  melting  tones  of  the 
flute,  he  stopped,  and  remained  listening  breathlessly 
at  the  outer  door.  The  piercing  glance  of  the  prince 
rested  on  him;  but  he  continued  to  play,  and  drew 
from  his  flute  such  touching  and  melancholy  tones 
that  the  poor  Jew  seemed  completely  overcome.  He 
folded  his  hands,  as  though  engaged  in  fervent  prayer; 
and  even  Fredersdorf,  although  a  daily  hearer  of  the 
prince,  listened  in  breathless  silence  to  those  sweet 
sounds. 

When  the  adagio  was  ended,  the  prince  laid  dowa  his 
flute,  and  signed  to  Fredersdorf  to  close  the  door;  he 
wished  to  give  Ephraim  an  opportunity  of  slipping  away 
unobserved. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  71 

"Did  your  highness  know  that  the  Jew  was  listen- 
ing ?  "  said  Fredersdorf . 

"Yes,  I  knew  it;  but  I  owed  the  poor  devil  some- 
thing; he  offered  to  lend  me  still  another  thousand  dol- 
lars! I  will  remember  this.  And  now,  Fredersdorf,  tell 
me  quickly  how  goes  it  in  Berlin  ?     How  is  the  king  ?  " 

"  Better,  your  highness.  He  set  out  for  Potsdam  a 
few  days  since,  and  the  pure  fresh  air  has  done  him  good. 
He  shows  himself,  daily  upon  the  balcony,  in  full  uniform. 
The  physicians,  it  is  true,  look  very  thoughtful;  but  the 
rest  of  the  world  believe  the  king  is  rapidly  improving." 

"  God  grant  that  the  physicians  may  be  again  mis' 
taken !  "  said  the  prince.  "  May  the  king  reign  manjf 
long  and  happy  years !  If  he  allow  me  to  live  as  I  wish, 
I  would  willingly  give  an  arm  if  I  could  thereby  lengthen 
his  life.  Well,  now  for  mirth  and  song !  We  will  be  gay, 
and  thus  celebrate  the  king's  improvement.  Make,  there- 
fore, all  liberal  arrangements.  Give  the  cook  his  orders, 
and  tell  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  assembled  in  the  garden 
that  I  will  be  with  them  immediately." 

The  prince  was  now  alone;  he  opened  the  letter  he 
had  received  with  the  gold;  his  eye  rested  lovingly  upon 
the  handwriting  of  his  distant  friend,  and  his  heart 
glowed  as  he  read  the  words  of  friendship,  admiration, 
and  love  from  Suhm. 

"  Truly,"  he  said,  raising  his  eyes  devoutly  to  heaven, 
"a  faithful  friend  is  worth  more  than  a  king's  crown. 
In  spite  of  all  my  brilliant  prospects  in  the  future,  what 
would  have  become  of  me  if  Suhm  had  not  stood  by  me 
for  the  second  time  and  borrowed  this  money  for  me  in 
Eussia — this  paltry  sum,  which  I  have  in  vain  sought  to 
obtain  in  my  own  land  ?  My  heart  tells  me  to  write  a  few 
lines  at  once  to  Suhm,  expressing  my  unshaken  friend- 
ship, my  enduring  love." 

Frederick  seated  himself,  and  wrote  one  of  those  soul- 
inspiring  letters  for  which  he  was   so   celebrated,    and 


72  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

which  ended  thus :  "  In  a  short  time  my  fate  will  be  de- 
cided! Tou  can  well  imagine  that  I  am  not  at  ease  in 
my  present  condition.  I  have  little  leisure,  but  my  heart 
is  young  and  fresh,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  I  was  never 
more  a  philosopher  than  now.  I  look  with  absolute  in- 
difference upon  the  future.  My  heart  is  not  agitated  by 
hope  or  fear,  it  is  full  of  pity  for  those  who  suffer,  of  con- 
sideration for  all  honest  men,  and  of  tenderness  and  sym- 
pathy for  my  friends.  You,  whom  I  dare  proudly  count 
among  the  latter,  may  be  more  and  more  convinced  that 
you  will  ever  find  in  me  what  Orestes  was  to  his  Pylades, 
and  that  it  is  not  possible  for  any  one  to  esteem  and  love 
you  more  than  your  devoted  Frederick." 

"  Now,"  said  the  prince,  as  he  arose,  "  away  with  the 
burdens,  the  gravities  and  cares  of  life!  Come,  now, 
spirit  of  love!  spirit  of  bliss!  We  will  celebrate  a  feast 
this  day  in  thy  honor,  thou  goddess  of  youth  and  hope! 
Come,  lovely  Venus,  and  bring  with  thee  thy  son  Cupid! 
We  will  worship  you  both.  To  you  belongs  this  day,  this 
night.  You,  goddess  of  love,  have  sent  me  the  little 
Morien,  that  fluttering,  light  gazelle,  that  imperious, 
laughing  fairy — that  '  Tourbillon '  of  caprice  and  pas- 
sion. Here  is  the  poem  I  composed  for  her.  Madame 
Brandt  shall  hand  it  to  her,  and  shall  lead  the  '  Tour- 
billon '  into  the  temple  of  love.  Away  with  earnest  faces, 
dull  eyes,  and  the  wisdom  of  fools !  Come  over  me, 
spirit  of  love,  and  grant  me  one  hour  of  blessed  forget- 
fulness." 

The  prince  rang  for  his  valet,  and  commanded  him  to 
lay  out  his  latest  French  suit;  he  entered  his  boudoir, 
and  with  a  comic  earnestness,  and  the  eager  haste  of  a 
rash,  impatient  lover,  he  gave  himself  to  the  duties  and 
arts  of  a  royal  toilet. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  73 

CHAPTEK   XI. 

THE   PRINCESS  ROYAL  ELIZABETH  CHRISTINE. 

The  princess  royal  had  not  yet  left  her  rooms;  she 
still  waited  for  the  prince,  whose  custom  it  was  to  give 
her  his  arm  every  morning  and  lead  her  to  the  saloon. 
On  these  occasions  only  did  the  Princess  Elizabeth  ever 
see  her  husband  alone,  then  only  did  he  address  one  word 
to  her,  touch  her  hand,  or  allow  her  to  lean  upon  his 
arm.  A  sweet  and  sad  happiness  for  this  young  wife, 
who  lived  only  in  the  light  of  her  husband's  countenance ; 
who  had  no  other  wish,  no  other  prayer,  no  other  hope 
than  to  please  him.  She  felt  that  the  eye  of  Frederick 
never  rested  upon  her  with  any  other  expression  than 
that  of  cold  friendship  or  absolute  indifference.  The 
reason  for  this  she  could  never  fathom.  Elizabeth  would 
have  given  her  heart's  blood  to  be  beloved  by  him  for  one 
single  day,  yes,  for  one  short,  blessed  hour;  to  be  clasped 
to  his  heart,  not  for  form  or  etiquette,  but  as  a  loving 
and  beloved  wife,  to  receive  in  her  ear  the  sweet  whispers 
of  his  tenderness  and  his  fondness.  She  would  have 
given  years  of  her  life  to  have  bought  this  man,  whom 
she  so  passionately  loved;  he  was  her  earthly  god,  the 
ideal  of  her  maiden  dreams.  This  man  was  her  husband; 
he  belonged  to  her;  he  was  bound  to  her  by  the  holiest 
ties,  and  yet  there  was  an  impassable  gulf  between  them, 
which  her  unbounded  love,  her  prayers,  her  sighs,  could 
not  bridge  over.  The  prince  loved  her  not;  never  had 
the  slightest  pulse  of  his  heart  belonged  to  her!  He  en- 
dured her,  only  endured  her  by  his  side,  as  the  poor  pris- 
oner, sighing  for  fresh  air,  permits  the  presence  of  the 
jailer,  when  he  can  only  thus  buy  a  brief  enjoyment  of 
God's  gay  and  sunny  world.  The  prince  royal  was  a  pris- 
oner, her  prisoner.     Not  love,  but  force  had  placed  that 


74  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

golden  ring  upon  his  hand,  that  first  link  in  the  long, 
invisible  heavy  chain,  which  from  that  weary  hour  had 
bound  his  feet,  yes,  his  soul;  from  which  even  his 
thoughts  were  never  free.  Elizabeth  knew  that  she  was 
an  ever-present,  bitter  memento  of  his  sad,  crushed,  tor- 
tured, and  humbled  youth — a  constant  reminder  of  the 
noble  friend  of  his  early  years,  whose  blood  had  been  shed 
for  him,  and  to  whose  last  wild  death-cry  his  tortured 
heart  had  been  compelled  to  listen.  Her  presence  must 
ever  recall  the  scorn,  the  hatred,  the  opposition  of  hi» 
stern  father;  the  hardships,  the  abuse,  the  humiliations, 
yes,  even  the  blows,  all  of  which  had  at  last  bowed  the 
noble  mind  of  the  prince  and  led  him  to  take  upon  him- 
self the  slavery  of  this  hated  marriage,  in  order  to  be 
free  from  the  scorn  and  cruelty  of  his  father.  To  escape 
from  his  dreary  prison  in  Ruppin,  he  rushed  into  the 
bonds  of  wedlock.  How  could  he  ever  forgive,  how  could 
he  ever  love  this  woman  forced  upon  him,  like  drops  of 
wormwood,  and  swallowed  only  with  the  hope  of  there- 
by escaping  the  torturous  pains  and  last  struggles  with 
death  ? 

Elizabeth  had  been  ignorant  of  all  these  bitter  truths. 
The  prince  had  been  ever  considerate  and  kind,  though 
cold,  when  they  met;  she  had  had  one  single  confidential 
interview  with  him,  and  in  that  hour  he  had  disclosed  to 
her  what  had  forced  them  together,  and  at  the  same  time 
forever  separated  them.  Never  could  he  love  the  wife 
associated  in  his  mind,  though  innocently,  with  such 
cruelties  and  horrors;  he  was  fully  convinced  that  she, 
also,  could  not  love  a  husband  thus  forced  upon  her; 
could  entertain  no  feeling  for  him  but  that  of  respectful 
consideration  and  cold  indifference. 

Frederick  did  not  know  with  what  deadly  wounds 
these  words  had  pierced  the  princess ;  she  had  the  strength 
to  veil  her  passion  and  her  shame  with  smiles,  and  in  her 
modest   maidenly  pride   she   buried   both   in   her   heart. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  75 

Since  that  interview  years  had  gone  by,  and  every  year 
the  love  of  the  princess  royal  for  her  husband  became 
more  ardent;  his  eyes  were  the  sun  which  warmed  and 
strengthened  this  flower  of  love,  and  her  tears  were  the 
dew  which  nourished  and  gave  it  vitality. 

Elizabeth  hoped  still  to  ravish  the  heart  of.  her  hus- 
band; she  yet  believed  that  her  resigned,  modest,  but 
proud  and  great  love,  might  conquer  his  coldness ;  and  yet, 
in  spite  of  this  hope,  in  spite  of  this  future  trust,  Eliza- 
beth trembled  and  feared  more  than  formerly.  She  knew 
that  the  hour  of  decision  was  drawing  nigh;  she  felt  with 
the  instinct  of  true  love  that  a  new  storm  was  rising  on 
the  ever-clouded  horizon  of  her  marriage,  and  that  the 
lightning  might  soon  destroy  her. 

Frederick  had  been  forced  by  the  power  of  the  king, 
his  father,  to  marry  her;  how  would  it  be  when  this 
power  should  cease,  when  her  husband  should  be  king? 
by  no  one  held  back;  by  no  one  controlled;  free  himself, 
and  free  to  give  laws  to  the  world;  to  acknowledge  no 
man  as  his  judge;  to  be  restrained  by  nothing  but  his 
conscience.  Might  not  even  his  conscience  counsel  him 
to  dissolve  this  unnatural  marriage,  which  had  within 
itself  no  spark  of  God's  truth,  no  ray  of  God's  blessing? 
might  not  her  husband  cast  her  off  and  take  this  English 
princess  for  his  wife?  had  she  not  been  the  choice  of  his 
heart?  had  not  King  George,  although  too  late,  declared 
his  willingness  for  the  betrothal  ?  had  they  not  loved  each 
other  with  the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  although  they  had 
never  met?  did  not  Sophia  Amelia's  portrait  hang  in 
the  library  of  the  crown  prince  ?  did  not  the  English  prin- 
cess wear  his  picture  constantly  near  her  heart?  had  she 
not  sworn  never  to  be  the  wife  of  another  man? 

As  Elizabeth  thought  of  these  things  she  trembled, 
and  it  seemed  to  her  that  her  whole  life  would  go  out  in 
one  great  cry  of  anguish  and  horror. 

"  No,"  she  said,  "  I  cannot  live  without  him !     I  will 


ijQ  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

never  consent!  he  can  kill  me,  but  he  cannot  force  me 
to  break  the  solemn  oath  I  have  sworn  on  God's  holy 
altar.  He  shall  not  cast  me  out  into  the  wild  wilderness, 
as  Abram  did  Hagar,  and  choose  another  wife !  " 

He  could  not  force  her  to  leave  him,  but  he  could  be- 
seech her,  and  Elizabeth  knew  full  well  there  was  nothing 
in  the  world  she  could  refuse  to  her  husband,  which  he 
would  condescend  so  far  as  to  entreat;  for  one  loving, 
grateful  word  from  his  lips,  she  would  give  him  her 
heart's  blood,  drop  by  drop;  for  one  tender  embrace,  one 
passionate  kiss,  she  would  lay  down  her  life  joyfully. 
But  she  would  not  believe  in  this  separation;  she  would 
yet  escape  this  unblessed  fate — would  find  a  way  to  his 
love,  his  sympathy,  at  least  to  his  pity. 

It  was  a  struggle  for  life,  for  happiness,  for  her  fu- 
ture, yes,  even  for  honor;  for  a  divorced  wife,  even  a 
princess,  bears  ever  a  stain  upon  her  fair  name,  and  walks 
lonely,  unpitied,  ever  despised  through  the  world. 

For  these  reasons  the  poor  princess  of  late  redoubled 
her  efforts  to  please  her  husband;  she  entered  more  fre- 
quently into  the  gayeties  of  the  court  circle,  and  some- 
times even  took  part  in  the  frivolous  and  rather  free 
jests  of  her  husband's  evening  parties;  sometimes  she 
was  rewarded  by  a  smile  and  a  glance  of  applause  from 
Frederick.  This  was  for  Elizabeth  the  noblest  jewel  in 
her  martyr  crown  of  love,  more  costly,  more  precious  than 
all  her  pearls  and  diamonds. 

To-day  one  of  these  joyous  and  unrestrained  circles 
was  to  meet.  The  prince  loved  these  fetes;  he  was  more 
charming,  witty,  talented,  and  unrestrained,  than  any  of 
his  guests.  Princess  Elizabeth  resolved  to  be  no  quiet 
silent  member  of  this  circle  to-day;  she  would  force  her 
husband  to  look  upon  her  and  admire  her;  she  would 
be  more  beautiful  than  all  the  other  ladies  of  the  court; 
more  lovely  than  the  gay  and  talented  coquette,  Madame 
Brandt ;  more  entrancing  than  the  genial  '  Tourbillon,' 


AND  HIS  COURT.  77 

Madame  Morien;  yes,  even  the  youthful  Schwerin,  with 
her  glancing  eye  and  glowing  cheek,  should  not  excel 
her. 

She  was  also  young  and  charming,  might  be  admired, 
loved — yes,  adored,  not  only  as  a  princess,  not  only  as 
the  wife  of  the  handsome  and  genial  prince  royal,  but 
for  her  own  lovely  self.  She  had  dismissed  her  maid,  her 
toilet  was  completed,  and  she  waited  for  the  prince  royal 
to  lead  her  into  the  saloon.  The  princess  stepped  to  the 
glass  and  examined  herself,  not  admiringly,  but  curiously, 
searchingly.  This  figure  in  the  mirror  should  be  to  her 
as  that  of  a  stranger  to  be  remarked  upon,  and  criticised 
coldly,  even  harshly ;  she  must  know  if  this  woman  might 
ever  hope  to  enchain  the  handsome  prince  royal.  "  Yes," 
whispered  she  to  herself,  "  this  form  is  slender  and  not 
without  grace;  this  white  satin  robe  falls  in  full  voluptu- 
ous folds  from  the  slender  waist  over  the  well-made  form ; 
it  contrasts  well  with  these  shoulders,  of  which  my  maids 
have  often  said  '  they  were  white  as  alabaster ; '  with  this 
throat,  of  which  Madame  Morien  says  '  it  is  white  and 
graceful  as  the  swan's.'  This  foot,  which  peeps  out  from 
the  silken  hem  of  my  robe,  is  small  and  slender ;  this  hand 
is  fair  and  small  and  well  formed.  I  was  constrained 
yesterday  to  promise  the  painter  Pesne  to  allow  him  to 
paint  it  for  his  goddess  Aurora ;  and  this  face !  is  it  ugly 
to  look  upon?  No,  this  face  is  not  ugly;  here  is  a  high, 
clear  forehead ;  the  eyebrows  well  formed  and  well  placed, 
the  eyes  are  large  and  bright,  the  nose  is  small  but  nobly 
formed,  the  mouth  good,  the  lips  soft  and  red:  yes,  this 
face  is  handsome.  O  my  God!  why  can  I  not  please  my 
husband? — why  will  he  never  look  upon  me  with  admira- 
tion?" 

Her  head  sank  upon  her  breast,  and  she  was  lost  in  sad 
and  melancholy  dreams ;  a  few  cold  tears  dropping  slowly 
upon  her  cheeks  aroused  her;  with  a  rash  movement  she 
raised  her  head,  and  shook  the  tears  from  her  eyes;  then 


78  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

looked  again  in  the  glass.  "  Why  does  not  the  prince 
love  me  ? "  whispered  she  again  to  herself  with  trembling 
lips.  "  I  see  it,  I  know  it !  It  is  written  in  unmistakable 
lines  in  this  poor  face.  I  know  why  he  loves  me  not. 
These  great  blue  eyes  have  no  fire,  no  soul;  this  mouth 
has  no  magical,  alluring  smile.  Yes,  alas!  yes,  that  is  a 
lovely  form;  but  the  soul  fails! — a  fine  nature,  but  the 
power  of  intellect  is  wanting.  My  Father,  my  heavenly 
Father,  I  sleep;  my  soul  lies  dead  and  stifiened  in  the 
coffin  with  my  secret  sorrows;  the  prince  could  awaken  it 
with  his  kisses,  could  breathe  a  new  life  into  it  by  a 
glance." 

The  princess  raised  her  arms  imploringly  on  high,  and 
her  trembling  lips  whispered,  "  Pygmalion,  why  come  you 
not  to  awaken  thy  Galatea?  Why  will  you  not  change 
this  marble  statue  into  a  woman  of  flesh  and  blood,  with 
heart  and  soul?  These  lips  are  ready  to  smile,  to  utter 
a  cry  of  rapture  and  delight,  and  behind  the  veil  of  my 
eyes  lies  a  soul,  which  one  touch  of  thine  will  arouse !  O 
Frederick!  Frederick!  why  do  you  torture  me?  Do  you 
not  know  that  your  wife  worships,  loves,  adores  you ;  that 
you  are  her  salvation,  her  god?  Oh,  I  know  these  are 
unholy,  sinf id  words !  what  then  ?  I  am  a  sinner !  I  am 
ready  to  give  my  soul  in  exchange  for  thee,  Frederick. 
Why  do  you  not  hear  me? — why  have  not  my  sighs,  my 
tears  the  power  to  bring  you  to  my  side  ?  " 

The  poor,  young  wife  sank  powerless  into  her  chair, 
and  covering  her  face  with  her  hands,  wept  bitterly.  Gay 
voices  and  loud  laughter,  sounding  from  beneath  her 
window,  aroused  her  from  this  trance  of  grief. 

"  That  is  Madame  Brandt  and  the  Duke  of  Bruns- 
wick," said  Elizabeth,  hastening  to  the  window,  and  peep- 
ing from  behind  the  curtains  into  the  garden. 

Yes,  there  stood  the  duke  in  lively  conversation  with 
Jordan  Kaiserling  Chazot,  and  the  newly-arrived  Biel- 
f eld ;  but  the  ladies  were  nowhere  to  be  seen,  and  the  prin- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  Y9 

cess  concluded  they  were  already  in  the  ante-room,  and 
that  the  prince  would  soon  join  her. 

"  He  must  not  see  that  I  have  wept ;  no  one  must  see 
that."  She  breathed  upon  her  handkerchief,  and  pressed 
its  damp  folds  upon  her  eyes.  "  No,  I  will  smile  and  be 
gay  like  Madame  Brandt  and  Morien.  I  will  laugh  and 
jest,  and  no  one  shall  guess  that  my  heart  is  bleeding  and 
dying  with  inexplicable  grief.  Yes,  gay  will  I  be,  and 
smiling;  so  only  can  I  please  my  husband."  She  gave  a 
sad,  heart-breaking  laugh,  which  was  echoed  loudly  and 
joyously  in  the  ante-room. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE   POEM. 

The  ladies  of  the  court,  and  those  who  were  guests  at 
the  palace  of  Rheinsberg,  were  assembled,  and  waiting  in 
the  ante-room,  as  the  princess  royal  had  supposed.  A 
few  of  them  had  withdrawn  to  one  of  the  windows  with 
Madame  von  Katch,  the  first  lady  of  honor,  and  were 
'conversing  in  low  voices,  while  Madame  von  Brandt  and 
Madame  von  Morien  held  an  earnest  but  low-toned  con- 
versation in  another  part  of  the  roora. 

Madame  von  Morien  listened  anxiously  to  her  friend, 
and  the  varying  emotions  of  her  soul  were  clearly  mir- 
rored on  her  speaking  countenance.  At  one  moment  a 
happy  smile  overspread  her  lovely  features,  but  the  next 
a  cloud  lay  on  that  pure,  fair  brow,  and  darkened  those 
black  and  glorious  eyes. 

"  As  I  told  you,"  whispered  Madame  von  Brandt,  "  the 
empress  desires  you  to  understand  that,  if  you  will  assist 
in  carrying  out  her  wishes,  you  may  depend  upon  her 


80  FREDERICK   THE  GREAT 

gratitude.  You  must  employ  all  your  eloquence  and 
influence  to  induce  the  prince  royal  to  dismiss  from  his 
mind  the  idea  of  divorcing  his  wife  at  the  death  of  the 
king." 

"  I  do  not  blame  the  empress,"  said  Madame  von 
Morien,  with  a  roguish  smile.  "  It  remains  to  be  seen, 
however,  whether  the  wishes  of  the  prince  royal  and  those 
of  the  empress  coincide.  You  are  well  aware  that  Prince 
Frederick  is  not  the  man  to  be  led  by  the  will  of  others." 

"  Not  by  the  will  of  the  empress,  dearest,  but  by 
yours." 

"  Well  how  does  this  good  empress  expect  to  bribe  me, 
for  I  hope  she  does  not  think  me  so  silly  and  childish 
as  to  consider  her  words  coromands,  merely  because  they 
fall  from  the  lips  of  an  empress.  No,  the  little  Morien  is 
at  this  moment  a  more  important  person  to  the  empress 
than  tjie  empress  is  to  me,  and  it  is,  therefore,  very  natu- 
ral that  I  should  make  my  conditions." 

"  Only  name  them,  my  dear  friend,  and  I  assure  you 
in  advance  that  they  will  be  fulfilled,  unless  you  should 
demand  the  moon  and  the  stars;  these  the  empress  can- 
not obtain  for  you." 

"  Ah,  you  have  divined  my  condition,"  said  Madame 
von  Morien,  smiling.  "  I  demand  a  star — one  that  is 
brighter  and  more  beautiful  than  those  in  the  sky — one 
that  the  empress  can  give." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,"  said  her  astonished  friend. 

"You  will  soon  understand — only  listen.  Have  you 
not  heard  that  the  Austrian  empress  intends  to  establish 
a  new  order — an  order  of  virtue  and  modesty  ?  " 

Madame  von  Brandt  burst  into  a  clear,  silvery  laugh. 
"  And  do  you  wish  to  belong  to  this  order  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  and  if  the  empress  will  not  present  me  with 
the  star  of  this  order,  I  shall  enter  into  no  further  ar- 
rangements." 

Madame  von  Brandt,  still  laughing,  replied :  "  This  is 


AND  HIS  COURT.  81 

a  most  edifying  idea.  Le  Tourbillon  desires  \  :>  become  a 
member  of  the  '  Order  of  Virtue.'  The  beautiful  Mcrien, 
whose  greatest  pride  was  to  despise  the  prudish,  a:ic  to 
snap  her  fingers  at  morality,  now  wishes  to  be  in  the  train 
of  modesty." 

"  Dear  friend,"  said  Madame  von  Morien,  with  a  be- 
witching smile,  which  displayed  two  rows  of  the  most  ex- 
quisitely white  teeth,  "  dear  friend,  you  should  always 
leave  open  a  way  of  retreat ;  even  as  ^sop  in  descending 
the  mountain  was  not  happy  in  the  easy  and  delightful 
path,  but  already  sighed  over  the  difficulties  of  the  next  as- 
cent, so  should  women  never  be  contented  with  the  joys  of 
the  present  moment,  but  prepare  themselves  for  the  sor- 
rows which  most  probably  await  them  in  the  future.  A 
day  must  come  when  we  will  be  cut  off  by  advancing  years 
from  the  flowery  paths  of  love  and  pleasure,  and  be  com- 
pelled to  follow  in  the  tiresome  footsteps  of  virtue.  It  is 
wise,  therefore,  to  be  prepared  for  that  which  must  come 
as  certainly  as  old  age,  and,  if  possible,  to  smooth  away 
the  difficulties  from  this  rough  path.  To-day  I  am  Le 
Tourbillon,  and  will  remain  so  a  few  years ;  but  when  the 
roses  and  lilies  of  my  cheek  are  faded,  I  will  place  the 
cross  of  the  *  Order  of  Virtue '  on  my  withered  bosom, 
and  become  the  defender  of  the  God-fearing  and  the 
virtuous." 

The  two  ladies  laughed,  and  their  laughter  was  as  gay 
and  silvery,  as  clear  and  innocent  as  the  tones  of  the  lark, 
or  the  songs  of  children.  Le  Tourbillon,  however,  quick- 
ly assumed  an  earnest  and  pathetic  expression,  and  said, 
in  a  snuffling,  preaching  voice :  "  Do  I  not  deserve  to  be 
decorated  with  the  star  of  the  '  Order  of  Virtue  ? '  Am 
I  not  destined  to  reunite  with  my  weak  but  beautiful 
hands  two  hearts  which  God  himself  has  joined  together? 
I  tell  you,  therefore,  procure  this  decoration  for  me,  or  I 
refuse  the  role  that  you  offer  me." 

"I  promise  that  your  caprice  shall  be  gratified,  and 


82  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

that  you  w  .11  obtain  the  star,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt, 
earnestly. 

"  Excuse  me,  my  dear,  that  is  not  sufficient.  I  de- 
mand the  assurance,  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Empress 
of  Austria,  the  exalted  aunt  of  our  princess  royal,  that 
tliis  order  shall  be  established,  and  that  I  shall  become  a 
member.  It  would  do  no  harm  for  the  empress  to  add  a 
few  words  of  tenderness  and  esteem." 

"  I  shall  inform  the  empress  of  your  conditions  im- 
mediately, and  she  will  without  doubt  fulfil  them,  for 
the  danger  is  pressing,  and  you  are  a  most  powerful  ally." 

"  Good !  thus  far  we  are  agreed,  and  nothing  fails 
now  but  the  most  important  part,"  said  Madame  von 
Morien,  with  a  mischievous  smile ;  "  that  is  to  discover 
whether  I  can  accomplish  your  wishes — whether  the 
prince  royal  considers  me  any  thing  more  than  '  Le  Tour- 
billon,'  '  the  pretty  Morien,'  or  the  Turkish  music  to 
which  he  listens  when  he  is  gay.  Nothing  is  wanting  but 
that  the  prince  royal  should  really  love  me.  It  is  true  that 
he  makes  love  to  me;  he  secretly  presses  my  hand;  he 
occasionally  whispers  a  few  loving,  tender  words  in  my 
ear;  and  yesterday,  when  I  met  him  accidentally  in  the 
dark  corridor,  he  embraced  me  so  passionately,  and  cov- 
ered my  lips  with  such  glowing,  stormy  kisses,  that  I 
was  almost  stifled.  But  that  is  all — that  is  the  entire 
history  of  my  love." 

"  No,  that  is  not  all.  This  history  has  a  sequel,"  said 
Madame  von  Brandt,  triumphantly,  as  she  drew  a  sealed 
letter  from  her  bosom,  and  gave  it  to  her  companion. 
"  Take  this,  it  is  a  new  chapter  in  your  romance." 

"  This  letter  has  no  address,"  returned  Madame  von 
Morien,  smiling. 

"  It  is  intended  for  you." 

"  No,  it  is  mine,"  suddenly  cried  a  voice  behind  them, 
and  a  small  hand  darted  forward,  and  tore  the  sealed 
paper  from  Madame  von  Morien. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  83 

"  Mine,  this  letter  is  mine ! "  cried  Louise  von 
Schwerin,  the  little  maid  of  honor,  who,  without  being  re- 
marked, had  approached  the  two  ladies,  and  seized  the 
letter  at  this  decisive  moment.  "  The  letter  belongs  to 
me;  it  is  mine,"  repeated  the  presumptuous  young  girl, 
as  she  danced  laughingly  before  the  two  pale  and  terrified 
ladies.  "  Who  dares  affirm  that  this  letter,  which  has 
no  address,  is  not  intended  for  me  ? " 

"Louise,  give  me  the  letter,"  implored  Madame  von 
Morien,  in  a  trembling  voice.  But  Louise  found  a  pleas- 
ure in  terrifying  her  beautiful  friend,  who  invariably 
laughed  at  her,  and  called  her  a  child  when  she  spoke  of 
her  heart,  and  hinted  at  a  secret  and  unhappy  passion. 
Louise  wished  to  revenge  herself  by  claiming  the  privi- 
leges of  a  child. 

"  Take  the  letter  if  you  can,"  cried  the  young  girl,  as 
she  flew  through  the  room  as  lightly  as  a  gazelle,  waving 
her  prize  back  and  forth  like  a  banner,  "  take  the  letter !  " 

Madame  von  Morien  hurried  after  her,  and  now  be- 
gan a  merry  race  through  the  saloon,  accompanied  by  the 
laughter  of  the  ladies,  who  looked  on  with  the  liveliest 
interest.  And  in  reality  it  was  a  charming  picture  to  see 
these  beautiful  figures,  which  flew  through  the  hall  like 
two  Atalantas,  radiant  with  eagerness,  with  glowing 
cheeks  and  smiling  lips,  with  fluttering  locks  and  throb- 
bing breasts. 

The  young  girl  was  still  in  advance;  she  danced  on, 
singing  and  laughing,  far  before  the  beautiful  Morien, 
who  began  already  to  be  wearied. 

"  The  letter  is  mine !  "  sang  out  this  impudent  little 
maiden,  "  and  no  one  shall  take  it  from  me." 

But  fear  lent  wings  to  Madame  von  Morien,  who  now 
made  a  last  despairing  effort,  and  flew  like  an  arrow  after 
Louise.  Now  she  was  just  behind  her;  Louise  felt  al- 
ready her  hot,  panting  breath  upon  her  cheek;  saw  the 
upraised  arm,  ready  to  seize  the  letter — ^when  suddenly 


84  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

the  door  opened,  before  which  Louise  stood,  and  the  prin- 
cess royal  appeared.  The  youthful  maid  of  honor  sank 
laughing  at  her  feet,  and  said  breathlessly,  "  Gracious 
princess,  protect  me !  " 

Madame  von  Morien  remained  motionless  at  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  princess  royal,  breathless  not  only  from 
her  rapid  race,  but  also  from  fear,  while  Madame  von 
Brandt,  concealing,  with  a  smile,  her  own  alarm,  ap- 
proached her  friend,  that  she  might  not  remain  without 
assistance  at  this  critical  moment.  The  rest  of  the  com- 
pany stood  silent  at  a  respectful  distance,  and  looked 
with  curious  and  inquiring  glances  at  this  singular 
scene. 

"  Well,  and  from  what  shall  I  protect  you,  little 
Louise  ? "  said  the  princess  royal,  as  she  bent  smilingly 
over  the  breathless  child. 

Louise  was  silent  for  one  instant.  She  felt  that  the 
princess  would  reprove  her  for  her  naughtiness;  she  did 
not  wish  to  be  again  treated  as  a  child  before  the  whole 
court.  She  hastily  resolved  to  insist  upon  the  truth  of 
her  assertion  that  the  letter  was  hers. 

"  Madame  von  Morien  wished  to  take  my  letter  from 
me,"  said  Louise,  giving  the  latter  a  perverse  look. 

"  I  hope  your  royal  highness  knows  this  impudent 
child  well  enough  not  to  put  any  faith  in  her  words,"  said 
Madame  von  Morien,  evasively,  not  daring  to  claim  the 
letter  as  her  property. 

"  Child !  She  calls  me  a  child !  "  murmured  Louise, 
enraged,  and  now  determined  to  revenge  herself  by  com- 
promising Madame  von  Morien. 

"  Then  the  letter  does  not  belong  to  Louise  ?  "  asked 
the  princess  royal,  turning  to  Madame  von  Morien. 

"  Yes,  your  royal  highness,  it  is  mine,"  declared 
Louise;  "your  royal  highness  can  convince  yourself  of 
it.  Here  is  the  letter;  will  you  have  the  kindness  to 
read  the  address  ?  " 


AND   HIS  COURT.  85 

"But  this  letter  has  no  address,"  said  the  astonished 
princess. 

"  And  still  Madame  von  Morien  asserts  that  it  is  in- 
tended for  her,"  cried  Louise,  wickedly. 

"  And  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  declares  it  belongs 
to  her,"  said  Madame  von  Morien,  casting  a  furious  look 
on  Louise. 

"  I  implore  your  royal  highness  to  be  the  judge,"  said 
Louise. 

"  How  can  I  decide  to  whom  the  letter  belongs,  as  it 
bears  no  name  ?  "  said  the  princess,  smiling. 

"  By  opening  and  reading  it,"  said  the  young  girl, 
with  apparent  frankness.  "  The  letter  is  from  my 
mother,  and  I  do  not  care  to  conceal  its  contents  from 
your  royal  highness." 

"  Are  you  willing,  Madame  von  Morien  ?  shall  I  open 
this  letter?" 

But  before  the  amazed  and  terrified  young  woman 
found  time  for  a  reply,  Madame  von  Brandt  approached 
the  princess  with  a  smiling  countenance.  She  had  in 
this  moment  of  danger  conceived  a  desperate  resolution. 
The  prince  royal  had  informed  her  that  this  paper  con- 
tained a  poem.  Why  might  not  this  poem  have  been  in- 
tended for  the  princess  as  well  as  for  Madame  von  Mo- 
rien? It  contained,  without  a  doubt,  a  declaration  of 
love,  and  such  declarations  are  suitable  for  any  woman, 
and  welcome  to  all. 

"  If  your  royal  highness  will  permit  me,  I  am  ready 
to  throw  light  on  this  mystery,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt. 

The  princess  bowed  permission. 

"  This  letter  belongs  neither  to  Madame  von  Morien 
nor  to  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin,"  said  Madame  von 
Brandt. 

"  You  promised  to  enlighten  us,"  exclaimed  the  prin- 
cess, laughing,  "  and  it  appears  to  me  you  have  made  the 
mystery  more  impenetrable.     The  letter  belongs  neither 


86  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

to  Madame  von  Morien  nor  to  little  Louise.  To  whom, 
then,  does  it  belong  ?  " 

"  It  belongs  to  your  royal  highness." 

"  To  me  ? "  asked  the  astonished  princess,  while  Ma- 
dame von  Morien  gazed  at  her  friend  with  speechless 
horror,  and  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  laughed  aloud. 

"  Yes,  this  letter  belongs  to  your  royal  highness.  The 
prince  royal  gave  it  to  me,  with  the  command  to  place  it 
upon  your  table,  before  you  went  to  your  dressing-room; 
but  I  was  too  late,  and  understood  that  your  highness  was 
occupied  with  your  toilet.  I  dared  not  disturb  you,  and 
retained  the  letter  in  order  to  hand  it  to  you  now.  As  I 
held  it  in  my  hand,  and  said  jestingly  to  Madame  von 
Morien  that  the  prince  royal  had  forgotten  to  write  the 
address,  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  came  and  tore  it 
from  me  in  a  most  unladylike  manner,  and  declared 
it  was  hers.     That  is  the  whole  history." 

"  And  you  say  that  the  letter  is  mine  ?  "  said  the  prin- 
cess, thoughtfully. 

"  It  is  yours,  and  it  contains  a  poem  from  his  royal 
highness." 

"  Then  I  can  break  the  seal  ? "  said  the  princess,  tear- 
ing open  the  paper.  "  Ah ! "  she  cried,  with  a  happy 
smile,  "  it  is  a  poem  from  my  husband." 

"  And  here  comes  his  royal  highness  to  confirm  the 
truth  of  my  statement,"  cried  Madame  von  Brandt,  step- 
ping aside. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  87 

CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE   BANQUET. 

Madame  von  Brandt  was  right.  The  prince  royal, 
surrounded  by  the  cavaliers  of  his  court,  entered  the 
saloon  just  as  the  princess  had  commenced  reading  the 
poem. 

On  his  entrance  a  murmur  of  applause  arose,  and  the 
countenance  of  his  wife  was  radiant  with  pleasure  and 
delight  on  beholding  this  handsome  and  engaging  young 
prince,  whom  she,  emboldened  by  the  love-verses  which 
she  held  in  her  hand,  joyfully  greeted  as  her  husband. 
On  this  day  the  prince  did  not  appear  as  usual  in  the  uni- 
form of  his  regiment,  but  was  attired  in  a  French  cos- 
tume of  the  latest  fashion.  He  wore  a  snuff-colored  coat 
of  heavy  moire-antique,  ornamented  at  the  shoulders 
with  long  bows  of  lace,  the  ends  of  which  were  bordered 
with  silver  fringe.  His  trousers,  of  the  same  color  and 
material,  reached  to  his  knees,  and  were  here  ornamented 
with  rich  lace,  which  hung  far  down  over  his  silk  stock- 
ings. On  the  buckles  of  his  high,  red-heeled  shoes,  glit- 
tered immense  diamonds.  These  gems  were,  however, 
eclipsed  by  the  jewelled  buttons  which  confined  his  long, 
silver-brocaded  waistcoat."  * 

The  costume  of  the  cavaliers  who  accompanied  the 
prince  was  of  the  same  style,  but  less  rich. 

As  this  group  of  handsome  and  richly-attired  gentle- 
men entered  the  saloon,  the  bright  eyes  of  the  ladies 
sparkled,  and  their  cheeks  colored  with  pleasure. 

The  princess  royal's  countenance  was  illumined 
with  delight ;  never  had  she  seen  the  prince  so  handsome, 
never  had  he  looked  so  loving.  And  this  was  all  for  her, 
the  chosen  one,  whom  he  now  blessed  with  his  love.     Yes, 

*  Bielfeld,  vol.  ii.,  page  82. 


88  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

he  loved  her!  She  had  only  read  the  commencement  of 
the  poem  which  he  had  written,  but  in  this  she  had  seen 
words  of  tender  and  passionate  love. 

While  she  was  gazing  at  her  husband  in  silent  ecstasy, 
Madame  von  Brandt  approached  the  prince,  and  grace- 
fully recounting  the  scene  which  had  just  occurred,  re- 
quested him  to  confirm  her  statement. 

The  prince's  quick  glance  flitted  for  a  moment  from 
the  beautiful  Morien,  who  trembled  with  consternation 
and  terror  to  his  wife,  and,  judging  by  the  pleased  ex- 
pression of  her  face,  he  concluded  that  she  believed  this 
poem  had  been  really  addressed  to  herself.  She  had, 
therefore,  not  read  it  to  the  end;  she  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived at  the  verse  which  contained  a  direct  appeal  to  the 
beautiful  Tourbillon,  the  charming  Leontine.  She 
must  not  be  permitted  to  read  the  entire  poem.  That 
"was  all! 

The  prince  approached  his  wife  with  a  smile,  to  which 
she  was  unaccustomed,  and  which  made  her  heart  beat 
high  with  delight. 

'  I  crave  your  indulgence,"  said  he,  "  for  my  poor 
little  poem,  which  reached  you  in  so  noisy  a  manner,  and 
is  really  scarcely  worth  reading.  Read  it  in  some  soli- 
tary hour  when  you  are  troubled  with  ennui;  it  may  then 
possibly  amuse  you  for  a  moment.  We  will  not  occupy 
ourselves  with  verses  and  poems  to-day,  but  will  laugh 
and  be  merry;  that  is,  if  it  pleases  you,  madame." 

The  princess  murmured  a  few  low  and  indistinct 
■words.  As  usual,  she  could  find  no  expression  for  her 
thoughts,  although  her  heart  was  full  of  love  and  delight. 
This  modest  shyness  of  the  lips,  this  poverty  of  words, 
with  her  rich  depth  of  feeling,  was  the  great  misfortune 
of  the  princess  royal.  It  was  this  that  made  her  appear 
awkward,  constrained,  and  spiritless;  it  was  this  that 
displeased  and  estranged  her  husband.  Her  conscious- 
ness of  this  deficiency  made  her  still  more  timid  and  con- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  89 

ßtrained,  and  deprived  her  of  what  little  power  of  expres- 
sion she  possessed. 

Had  she  at  this  moment  found  courage  to  make  a 
ready  and  witty  reply,  her  husband  would  have  been  much 
pleased.  Her  silence,  however,  excited  his  displeasure, 
and  his  brow  darkened. 

He  offered  her  his  arm;  and,  exchanging  glances  with 
Madame  Morien,  he  conducted  his  wife  to  the  dining- 
saloon,  to  the  magnificently  arranged  and  glittering 
table. 

"  The  gardener  of  Rheinsberg,  Frederick  of  Hohen- 
zollern,  invites  his  friends  to  partake  of  what  he  has  pro- 
vided. For  the  prince  royal  is  fortunately  not  at  home; 
we  can,  therefore,  be  altogether  sans  gene,  and  follow  our 
inclinations,  as  the  mice  do  when  the  cat  is  not  at 
home." 

He  seated  himself  between  his  wife  and  Madame  Mo- 
rien, whispering  to  the  latter :  "  Beautiful  Tourbillon, 
my  heart  is  in  flames,  and  I  rely  upon  you  to  quench 
them.     You  must  save  me !  " 

"  Oh,  this  heart  of  yours  is  a  phoenix,  and  arises  from 
its  ashes  renewed  and  rejuvenated." 

"  But  only  to  destroy  itself  again,"  said  the  prince. 
Then  taking  his  glass  and  surveying  his  guests  with  a 
rapid  glance,  he  exclaimed :  "  Our  first  toast  shall  be 
youth — ^youth  of  which  the  old  are  envious! — youth  and 
beauty,  which  are  so  brilliantly  represented  here  to-day, 
that  one  might  well  imagine  Venus  had  sent  us  all  her 
daughters  and  playmates,  as  well  as  her  lovers,  the  de- 
posed and  discarded  ones  as  well  as  those  whom  she  still 
favors,  and  only  proposes  to  discard." 

The  glasses  rang  out  merrily  in  answer  to  this  toast, 
and  all  betook  themselves  with  evident  zest  to  the  costly 
and  savory  dishes,  prepared  by  the  master-hand  of  Duvall 
the  French  cook,  and  which  the  prince  seasoned  with  the 
Attic  salt  of  his  ever-ready  wit. 


90  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

They  all  gave  themselves  up  to  gayety  and  merriment, 
and  pleasure  sparkled  in  every  eye. 

The  corpulent  Knobelsdorf  related  in  a  stentorian 
voice  some  amusing  anecdotes  of  his  travels.  Chazot  re- 
cited portions  of  Voltaire's  latest  work.  The  learned  and 
witty  Count  Kaiserling  recited  verses  from  the  "  Hen- 
ri ade,"  and  then  several  of  Gellert's  fables,  which  were  be- 
coming very  popular.  He  conversed  with  his  neighbor, 
the  artist  Pesne,  on  the  subject  of  the  paintings  which  his 
masterly  hand  had  executed,  and  then  turning  to  Made- 
moiselle von  Schwerin,  he  painted  in  glowing  colors  the 
future  of  Berlin — the  future  when  they  would  have  a 
French  theatre,  an  Italian  opera,  and  of  all  things,  an 
Italian  ballet-corps.  For  the  latter  the  most  celebrated 
dancers  would  be  engaged,  and  it  should  eclipse  every 
thing  of  the  kind  that  had  ever  been  seen  or  heard  of  in 
Germany. 

At  the  lower  end  of  the  table  sat  the  two  Vendas,  the 
two  Grauns,  and  Quantz,  the  powerful  and  much-feared 
virtuoso  of  the  flute  and  instructor  of  the  prince  royal, 
whose  rudeness  was  almost  imposing,  and  before  whom 
the  prince  himself  was  somewhat  shy.  But  to-day  even 
Quantz  was  quiet  and  tractable.  His  countenance  wore 
the  half-pleased,  half-grumbling  expression  of  a  bull-dog 
when  stroked  by  a  soft  and  tender  hand.  He  is  inclined 
to  be  angry,  but  is  so  much  at  his  ease  that  he  finds  it 
absolutely  impossible  to  growl. 

In  their  merriment  the  gentlemen  were  becoming  al- 
most boisterous.  The  cheeks  of  the  ladies  glowed  with 
pleasure,  and  their  lovers  were  becoming  tender. 

The  princess  royal  alone  was  silent;  her  heart  was 
heavy  and  sorrowful.  She  had  carefully  reconsidered  the 
scene  which  had  occurred,  and  the  result  was,  she  was 
now  convinced  that  the  poem  which  she  had  received  was 
not  intended  for  her,  but  for  some  other  fair  lady.  She 
was  ashamed  of  her  credulity,  and  blushed  for  her  own 


AND  HIS  COURT.  91 

vanity.  For  how  could  it  be  possible  that  the  handsome 
and  brilliant  man  who  sat  at  her  side,  who  was  so  witty 
and  spirited,  who  was  as  learned  as  he  was  intelligent, 
as  noble  as  he  was  amiable,  how  could  it  be  possible  that 
he  should  love  her? — she  who  was  only  young  and  pretty, 
who  was  moreover  guilty  of  the  great,  unpardonable  fault 
of  being  his  wife,  and  a  "wife  who  had  been  forced  upon 
him. 

No,  this  poem  had  never  been  intended  for  her.  But 
for  whom,  then?  Who  was  the  happy  one  to  whom  the 
prince  had  given  his  love  ?  Her  heart  bled  as  she  thought 
that  another  could  call  this  bliss  her  own.  She  was  too 
mild  and  gentle  to  be  angry.  She  ardently  desired  to 
know  the  name  of  her  rival,  but  not  that  she  might  re- 
venge herself.  No,  she  wished  to  pray  for  her  whom  the 
prince  royal  loved,  to  whom  he  perhaps  owed  a  few  days 
of  happiness,  of  bliss. 

But  who  was  she?  The  princess  royal's  glance  rested 
searchingly  on  all  the  ladies  who  were  present.  She  saw 
many  beautiful  and  pleasing  faces.  Many  of  them  had 
intelligence,  vivacity,  and  wit,  but  none  of  them  were 
worthy  of  his  love.  Her  husband  had  just  turned  to  his 
fair  neighbor,  and,  with  a  fascinating  smile,  whispered 
a  few  words  in  her  ear.  Madame  Morien  blushed,  cast 
down  her  eyes,  but,  raising  them  again  and  looking  ar- 
dently at  the  prince  royal,  she  murmured  a  few  words  in 
so  low  a  tone  that  no  one  else  heard  them. 

How?  Could  it  be  this  one?  But  no,  that  was  im- 
possible. This  giddy,  coquettish,  and  superficial  wom- 
an could  by  no  possibility  have  captivated  the  noble  and 
high-toned  prince;  she  could  not  be  Elizabeth's  happy 
rival. 

But  who,  then?  Alas,  if  this  long  and  weary  feast 
were  only  at  an  end!  If  she  could  but  retire  to  her 
chamber  and  read  this  poem,  the  riddle  would  then  be 
Bolved,  and  she  would  know  the  name  of  his  lady-love. 


92  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

It  seemed,  however,  that  the  prince  had  divined  his 
wife's  wish,  and  had  determined  that  it  should  not  be 
gratified. 

They  had  taken  their  seats  at  table  at  a  very  late  hour 
to-day,  at  six  o'clock.  It  had  now  become  dark,  and  can- 
delabras  with  wax  candles  were  brought  in  and  placed  on 
the  table. 

"  The  lights  are  burning,"  exclaimed  the  prince ;  "  we 
will  not  leave  the  table  until  these  lights  are  burned  out, 
and  our  heads  have  become  illuminated  with  cham- 
pagne." * 

And  amid  conversation,  laughter,  and  recitations,  all 
went  merrily  on.  But  the  heart  of  the  princess  royal 
5rew  sadder  and  sadder. 

Suddenly  the  prince  turned  to  her.  "  I  feel  the  vanity 
of  an  author,"  said  he,  "  and  beg  permission  to  inquire 
if  you  have  no  curiosity  to  hear  the  poem  which  I  had 
the  honor  of  sending  you  to-day  by  Madame  Brandt  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  have,  my  husband,"  exclaimed  the  princess, 
with  vivacity.  "  I  long  to  become  acquainted  with  its 
contents." 

"  Then  permit  me  to  satisfy  this  longing,"  said  the 
prince,  holding  out  his  hand  for  the  poem.  The  princess 
hesitated,  but  when  she  looked  up  and  their  eyes  met,  his 
glance  was  so  cold  and  imperious,  that  she  felt  as  if  an 
icy  hand  were  at  her  heart.  She  drew  the  poem  from  her 
bosom  and  handed  it  silently  to  her  husband. 

"ISTow,  my  little  maid  of  honor.  Von  Schwerin,"  said 
the  prince  royal,  smiling,  "  this  sagacious,  highly  respect- 
able, and  worthy  company  shall  judge  between  you  and 
me,  and  decide  whether  this  paper  is  a  letter  from  her 
dear  mother,  as  this  modest  and  retiring  child  asserts, 
or  a  poem,  written  by  a  certain  prince,  who  is  sometimes 
induced  by  his  imaginative  fancy  to  make  indifferent 
Terses.      Listen,    therefore,    ladies    and    gentlemen,    and 

*  Bielfeld,  vol  i.,  page  84.    The  prince's  own  words. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  93 

judge  between  us.  But  that  no  one  may  imagine  that  I 
am  reading  any  thing  else,  and  substituting  the  ten- 
der thoughts  of  a  lover  for  the  fond  words  of  motherly 
affection,  Madame  Morien  shall  look  at  the  paper  I  am 
reading,  and  bear  witness  to  my  truth." 

He  read  off  the  first  verses  as  they  were  written,  and 
then  improvising,  recited  a  witty  and  humorous  poem,  in 
which  he  did  homage  to  his  wife's  charms.  His  poem 
was  greeted  with  rapturous  applause.  While  he  was  re- 
citing the  improvised  verses,  Madame  Morien  had  time 
to  read  the  poem.  When  she  came  to  the  verses  which 
contained  a  passionate  declaration  of  love,  and  in  which 
the  prince  half-humbly,  half -imperiously,  solicited  a  ren- 
dezvous, her  breast  heaved  and  her  heart  beat  high  with 
delight.  After  the  prince  had  finished  he  turned  to  his 
wife  with  a  smile,  and  asked  if  the  poem  had  pleased  her. 

"  So  much  so,"  said  she,  "  that  I  pray  you  to  return  it, 
I  should  like  to  preserve  it  as  a  reminiscence  of  this 
hour." 

"  Preserve  it  ?  By  no  means !  A  poem  is  like  a 
flower.  It  is  a  thing  of  the  present,  and  is  beautiful  only 
when  fresh.  The  moment  gave  it,  and  the  moment  shall 
take  it.  We  will  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  what  we  owe  to 
the  gods." 

Having  thus  spoken,  the  prince  tore  the  paper  into 
email  pieces,  which  he  placed  in  the  palm  of  his  hand. 

"  Go  ye  in  all  directions  and  teach  unto  all  people  that 
nothing  is  immortal,  not  even  the  poem  of  a  prince,"  said 
he,  and  blowing  the  particles  of  paper,  he  sent  them  flut- 
tering through  the  air  like  snowflakes.  The  ladies  and 
gentlemen  amused  themselves  with  blowing  the  pieces 
from  place  to  place.  Each  one  made  a  little  bellows  of 
his  mouth,  and  endeavored  to  give  some  strip  of  paper 
a  particular  direction  or  aim — to  blow  it  on  to  some  fair 
one's  white  shoulders  or  into  some  gentleman's  eye  or 
laughing  mouth. 

MuHLBACu  5  Vol.   1 


94  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

This  caused  a  great  deal  of  merriment.  The  princess 
was  still  sad  and  silent.  Now  and  then  a  scrap  fell  before 
her;  these  she  blew  no  further,  but  mechanically  collected 
and  gazed  at  them  in  a  listless  and  mournful  manner. 
Suddenly  she  started  and  colored  violently.  On  one  of 
these  strips  of  paper  she  had  read  two  words  which 
made  her  heart  tremble  with  anger  and  pain.  These 
Words  were,  "  Bewitching  Leontine !  " 

The  secret  was  out.  The  prince  royal's  poem  had 
been  addressed  to  Leontine,  to  a  bewitching  Xeontine,  and 
not  to  Elizabeth!  But  who  was  this  Leontine?  which  of 
the  ladies  bore  that  name?  She  must,  she  would  know! 
She  called  all  her  courage  to  her  assistance.  Suddenly 
she  took  part  in  the  general  merriment,  commenced  to 
laugh  and  jest;  she  entered  gayly  into  a  conversation 
with  her  husband,  with  Madame  Morien  and  the  young 
Baron  Bielfeld,  who  was  her  vis-a-vis. 

The  princess  had  never  been  so  gay,  so  unconstrained, 
and  so  witty.  No  one  suspected  that  these  jests,  this 
laughter,  was  only  assumed;  that  she  veiled  the  pain 
which  she  suffered  with  a  smiling  brow. 

The  candles  had  burnt  half  way  down,  and  some  of 
the  gentlemen  had  begun  to  light  the  first  tapers  of  the 
champagne  illumination  which  the  prince  had  prophe- 
sied. Chazot  no  longer  recited,  but  was  singing  some  of 
the  charming  little  songs  which  he  had  learned  of  the 
merry  peasants  of  Normandy,  his  fatherland.  Jordan 
improvised  a  sermon  after  the  fashion  of  the  fanatical 
and  hypocritical  priests  who  for  some  time  past  had  col- 
lected crowds  in  the  streets  of  Berlin.  Kaiserling  had 
risen  from  his  seat  and  thrown  himself  into  an  attitude 
in  which  he  had  seen  the  celebrated  Lagiere  in  the  ballet 
of  the  Syrene  at  Paris.  Knobelsdorf  recounted  his  in- 
teresting adventures  in  Italy;  and  even  Quantz  found 
courage  to  give  the  prince's  favorite  dog,  which  was 
snuffling  at  his  feet,  and  which  he  hated  as  a  rival,  a 


AND  HIS  COURT.  95 

hearty  kick.  The  prince  royal  alone  had  preserved  his 
noble  and  dignified  appearance.  Amid  the  general  ex- 
citement he  remained  calm  and  dignified.  The  candles 
were  burning  low,  and  the  champagne  illumination  was 
becoming  intense  in  the  heads  of  all  the  gentlemen  ex- 
cept the  prince  and  the  Baron  Bielfeld. 

"  Bielfeld  must  also  take  part  in  this  illumination," 
said  the  prince,  turning  to  his  wife,  and  calling  the  for- 
mer, he  proposed  to  drink  with  him  the  health  of  his 
fiancee,  whom  he  had  left  in  Hamburg. 

After  Bielfeld  had  left  his  seat  and  was  advancing  to- 
ward the  prince  royal,  the  princess  hurriedly  and  noise- 
lessly gave  her  instructions  to  a  servant.  She  had  ob- 
served that  Bielfeld  had  been  drinking  freely  of  the  cold 
water  which  had  been  placed  before  him  in  a  decanter. 
The  servant  emptied  this  decanter  and  filled  it  with  sil- 
lery,  which  was  as  clear  and  limpid  as  water.  Bielfeld 
returning  to  his  seat,  heated  by  the  toast  he  had  been 
drinking,  filled  his  glass  to  the  brim,  and  drank  instead  of 
water  the  fiery  sillery.* 

The  princess  royal,  whose  aim  was  to  discover  which 
of  the  ladies  was  the  bewitching  Leontine,  determined  to 
strike  a  decisive  blow.  With  an  ingratiating  smile  she 
turned  to  Bielfeld  and  said: 

"  The  prince  royal  spoke  of  your  fiancee;  I  may,  there- 
fore, congratulate  you." 

Bielfeld,  who  did  not  dare  to  acknowledge  that  he  was 
on  the  point  of  shamefully  deserting  this  lady,  bowed  in 
silence. 

"  May  I  know  the  name  of  your  fiancee?  "  asked  she. 

"  Mademoiselle  von  "Randau,"  murmured  Bielfeld, 
drinking  another  glass  of  sillery  to  hide  his  confusion. 

"  Mademoiselle  von  Eandau !  "  repeated  the  princess, 
"how  cold,  how  ceremonious  that  sounds!  To  im- 
agine how  a  lady  looks  and  what  she  is  like,  it  is  neces- 

*  Bielfeld,  vol.  L,  page  85. 


QG  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

sary  to  know  her  Christian  name,  for  a  given  name  is 
to  some  extent  an  index  to  character.  What  is  your 
fiancee^s  name?  " 

"  Regina,  royal  highness." 

"  Regina !  That  is  a  beautiful  name.  A  prophecy  of 
happiness.  Then  she  will  always  be  queen  of  your  heart. 
Ah,  I  understand  the  meaning  of  names,  and  at  home  in 
my  father's  house  I  was  called  the  Sibyl,  because  my 
prophecies  were  always  true.  If  you  will  give  me  your 
first  names,  I  will  prophecy  your  future,  ladies.  Let  us 
commence.  What  is  your  given  name,  Madame  von 
Katsch?" 

While  the  princess  was  speaking,  she  played  carelessly 
with  the  beautiful  Venetian  glass  which  stood  before  her. 
The  prince  royal  alone  saw  what  no  one  else  observed; 
he  saw  that  the  hand  which  toyed  with  the  glass  trembled 
violently;  that  while  she  smiled  her  lips  quivered,  and 
that  her  breathing  was  hurried  and  feverish.  He  com- 
prehended what  these  prophecies  meant;  he  was  con- 
vinced that  the  princess  had  become  acquainted  with  the 
contents  of  his  poem. 

"  Do  not  give  her  your  name,"  he  whispered  to  Ma- 
dame Morien.  He  then  turned  to  his  wife,  who  had  just 
prophesied  a  long  life  and  a  happy  old  age  to  Madame 
von  Katsch. 

"  And  your  name.  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  ?  "  said 
the  prince  royal. 

"  Louise."  I 

"  Ah,  Louise !  Well,  I  prophecy  that  you  will  be 
happier  than  your  namesake,  the  beautiful  La  Val- 
liere.  Your  conscience  will  never  reproach  you  on 
accoitnt  of  your  love  affairs,  and  you  will  never  enter  a 
convent." 

"  But  then  I  will  probably  never  have  the  happiness  of 
being  loved  by  a  king,"  said  the  little  maid  of  honor, 
with  a  sigh. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  97 

This  naive  observation  was  greeted  with  a  merry  peal 
of  laughter. 

The  princess  continued  her  prophecies;  she  painted 
for  each  one  a  pleasant  and  flattering  future.  She  now 
turned  to  Madame  Morien,  still  smiling,  still  playing 
with  the  glass. 

"  Well,  and  your  name,  my  dear  Madame  Morien  ? " 
said  she,  looking  into  the  glass  which  she  held  clasped  in 
her  fingers. 

"  She  is  called  '  Le  Tourbillon,' "  exclaimed  the  prince 
royal,  laughing. 

"  Antoinette,  Louise,  Albertine,  are  my  names,"  said 
Madame  Morien,  hesitatingly. 

The  princess  royal  breathed  free,  and  raised  her  eyes 
from  the  glass  to  the  beautiful  Morien. 

"  These  are  too  many  names  to  prophesy  by,"  said  she. 
"  By  what  name  are  you  called  ?  " 

Madame  Morien  hesitated;  the  other  ladies,  better  ac- 
quainted with  the  little  mysteries  of  Tourbillon  than  the 
princess,  divined  that  this  question  of  the  princess  and 
the  embarrassment  of  Madame  Morien  betokened  some- 
thing extraordinary,  and  awaited  attentively  the  reply 
of  this  beautiful  woman.  A  momentary  pause  ensued. 
Suddenly  Mademoiselle  Schwerin  broke  out  in  laughter. 

"  Well,"  said  she,  "  have  you  forgotten  your  name, 
Madame  Morien?  Do  you  not  know  that  you  are  called 
Leontine  ? " 

"  Leontine  ? "  exclaimed  the  princess,  and  her  fingers 
closed  so  tightly  on  the  glass  which  she  held  in  her 
hand,  that  it  crushed,  and  drew  from  her  a  sharp  cry  of 
pain. 

The  prince  royal  saw  the  astonished  and  inquiring 
glances  of  all  directed  to  his  wife,  and  felt  that  he  must 
turn  their  attention  in  some  other  direction — that  he 
must  make  a  jest  of  this  accident. 

"  Elizabeth,  you  are  right !  "  said  he,  laughing.    "  The 


98  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

candles  have  burnt  down;  the  illumination  has  begun; 
the  festival  is  at  an  end.  We  have  already  sacrificed  a 
poem  to  the  gods,  we  must  now  do  the  same  with  the 
glasses,  out  of  which  we  have  quaffed  a  few  hours 
of  happiness,  of  merriment,  and  of  forgetfulness. 
I  sacrifice  this  glass  to  the  gods;  all  of  you  follow  my 
example." 

He  raised  his  glass  and  threw  it  over  his  shoulder  to 
the  floor,  where  it  broke  with  a  crash.  The  others  fol- 
lowed the  example  of  the  prince  and  his  wife  with  shouts 
of  laughter,  and  in  a  few  minutes  nothing  was  left  of 
these  beautiful  glasses  but  the  glittering  fragments  which 
covered  the  floor.  But  the  company,  now  intoxicated 
with  wine  and  delight,  was  not  contented  with  this  one 
offering  to  the  gods,  but  thirsted  for  a  continuation  of 
their  sport;  and  not  satisfied  with  having  broken  the 
glasses,  subjected  the  vases  and  the  bowls  of  crystal  to  the 
same  treatment.  In  the  midst  of  this  general  confusion 
the  door  was  suddenly  opened,  and  Fredersdorf  appeared 
at  the  threshold,  holding  a  letter  in  his  hand. 

His  uncalled-for  appearance  in  this  saloon  was  some- 
thing so  extraordinary,  so  unprecedented,  that  it  could 
be  only  justified  on  the  ground  of  some  great  emergency, 
something  of  paramount  importance.  They  all  felt  this, 
notwithstanding  their  excitement  and  hilarity.  A  pro- 
found silence  ensued.  Every  eye  was  fixed  anxiously 
upon  the  prince,  who  had  received  the  letter  from  Fre- 
dersdorf's  hands  and  broken  the  seal.  The  prince  turned 
pale,  and  the  paper  trembled  in  his  hands.  He  hastily 
arose  from  his  seat. 

"  My  friends,"  said  he,  solemnly,  "  the  feast  is  at  an 
end.  I  must  leave  for  Potsdam  immediately.  The  king 
is  dangerously  ill.     Farewell !  " 

And  offering  his  arm  to  his  wife,  he  hastily  left  the 
saloon.  The  guests,  who  but  now  were  so  merry,  silently 
arose  and  betook  themselves  to  their  chambers,  and  noth- 


AND   HIS  COURT.  99 

ing  could  be  heard  save  now  and  then  a  stolen  whisper  or 
a  low  and  anxious  inquiry.  Soon  a  deep  and  ominous 
silence  reigned  in  the  castle  of  Rheinsberg.  All  slept, 
or  at  least  seemed  to  sleep. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

LE   ROI   EST   MORT.      VIVE   LE   ROI ! 

King  Frederick  William's  end  was  approaching. 
Past  was  his  power  and  greatness,  past  all  his  dreams  of 
glory.  Long  did  the  spirit  fight  against  the  body;  but 
now,  after  months  of  secret  pain  and  torture,  he  had  to 
acknowledge  himself  overpowered  by  death.  The  stiff 
uniform  is  no  longer  adapted  to  his  fallen  figure.  Eti- 
quette and  ceremony  had  been  banished  by  the  all-power- 
ful ruler — by  death.  He  is  no  longer  a  king,  but  a  dying 
man — nothing  more.  A  father  taking  leave  of  his  chil- 
dren, a  husband  embracing  his  wife  for  the  last  time; 
pressing  his  last  kisses  upon  her  tearful  face,  and  plead- 
ing for  forgiveness  for  his  harshness  and  cruelty.  Fred- 
erick William  has  made  his  peace  with  God  and  the 
world;  his  proud  spirit  is  broken;  his  hard  heart  soft- 
ened. Long  he  had  striven  in  the  haughtiness  of  his 
heart  before  acknowledging  his  sins,  but  the  brave  and 
pious  Roloff  approached  his  couch,  and  with  accusations 
and  reproaches  awakened  his  slumbering  conscience.  At 
first  he  had  but  one  answer  to  the  priest's  accusations, 
and  that  was  proudly  given:  "I  have  ever  been  true  to 
my  wife."  Roloff  continued  to  speak  of  his  extortions, 
oppressions,  and  inhumanity.  Frederick  William  was  at 
last  convinced  that  he  must  lay  down  his  crown  and  ap- 


100  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

proach  God  with  deep  repentance,  humbly  imploring  par- 
don and  mercy. 

Now  that  he  had  made  his  peace  with  God,  there  re- 
mained nothing  for  him  to  do  but  to  arrange  his  earthly 
affairs,  and  take  leave  of  his  wife,  and  children,  and 
friends.  They  were  all  called  to  his  room  that  he  might 
bid  them  farewell.  By  the  side  of  the  arm-chair,  in 
which  the  king  was  reclining,  wrapped  in  his  wide  silk 
mantle,  stood  his  wife  and  the  prince  royal.  His  hands 
rested  in  theirs,  and  when  he  raised  his  weary  eyes,  he 
always  met  their  tear-stained  faces,  their  looks  of  unut- 
terable love.  Death,  that  would  so  soon  separate  them 
forever,  had  at  last  united  in  love  father  and  son.  Weep- 
ing loudly,  Frederick  William  folded  the  prince  royal  in 
his  arms,  and  with  a  voice  full  of  tears,  exclaimed :  "  Has 
not  God  in  his  great  mercy  given  me  a  noble  son  ? " 
Prince  Frederick  bowed  his  head  upon  his  father's  breast, 
and  prayed  deeply  and  earnestly  that  his  life  might  be 
spared. 

But  the  end  was  approaching;  the  king  knew  and  felt 
it.  He  had  the  long  coffin,  the  same  in  which  he  had 
laid  himself  for  trial  a  few  months  before,  brought  into 
his  room,  and  looking  at  it  sadly,  said,  with  a  peaceful 
smile :  "  In  this  bed  I  shall  sleep  well !  "  He  then  called 
his  secretary,  Eichel,  and  ordered  him  to  read  the  pro- 
gramme of  his  funeral,  which  he  had  himself  dictated. 

It  was  a  strange  picture  to  see  this  king,  lying  by  the 
side  of  the  coffin,  surrounded  by  his  children  and  servants, 
his  weary  head  reclining  on  the  shoulder  of  his  wife, 
listening  attentively  to  this  programme,  that  spoke  of 
him  a  still  living  and  thinking  being,  as  of  a  cold,  dead, 
senseless  mass.  Not  as  for  a  sad  festival,  but  for  a 
grand  parade,  had  the  king  arranged  it,  and  it  made  a 
fearful,  half-comic  impression  upon  the  auditors,  when 
was  added,  at  the  especial  request  of  the  king,  that,  after 
his  laying  out,  a  splendid  table  should  be  set  in  the  great 


AND  HIS  COURT.  loi 

hall  for  all  who  had  been  present  at  the  ceremony,  and 
that  none  but  the  best  wines  from  his  cellar  should  be 
served. 

After  having  provided  for  "his  corpse,  Frederick  Wil- 
liam still  wished  to  leave  to  each  of  his  favorites,  the 
Prince  of  Dessau  and  Baron  Hacke,  a  horse.  He  ordered 
the  horses  to  be  led  from  their  stalls  to  the  court.  He 
then  desired  his  chair  to  be  rolled  to  an  open  window, 
where  he  could  see  the  entire  court,  and  give  a  farewell 
look  to  each  of  these  animals  which  had  so  often  borne 
him  to  feasts  and  parades.  Oh!  what  costly,  glorious 
days  those  were,  when  he  could  lightly  swing  himself 
upon  these  proud  steeds,  and  ride  out  into  God's  fresh, 
free  air,  to  be  humbly  welcomed  by  his  subjects,  to  be 
received  with  the  roll  of  drums  and  the  sound  of  trumpets, 
and  every  moment  of  his  life  be  made  aware  of  his  great- 
ness and  power  by  the  devotion  and  humility  of  those  who 
surrounded  him!  And  that  was  all  set  aside  and  at  an 
end.  Never  again  could  he  mount  his  horse,  never  again 
could  he  ride  through  the  streets  of  Berlin,  and  rejoice 
over  the  beautiful  houses  and  stately  palaces  called  into 
life  by  his  royal  will.  N"ever  again  will  he  receive  the 
humble  welcome  of  his  subjects;  and  when  on  the  mor- 
row drums  are  beating  and  cannon  thundering,  they  will 
not  salute  the  king,  but  his  corpse. 

Oh!  and  life  is  so  beautiful;  the  air  is  so  fresh  and 
balmy;  the  heavens  of  so  clear  and  transparent  a  blue; 
and  he  must  leave  it  all,  and  descend  into  the  dark  and 
lonely  grave. 

The  king  brushed  a  tear  from  his  eye,  and  turning  his 
gaze  from  heaven  and  God's  beautiful  earth,  looked  upon 
the  horses  which  a  servant  was  leading  to  and  fro  in 
the  court.  As  he  did  this,  his  countenance  brightened, 
he  forgot  for  the  moment  that  death  was  near  at  hand, 
and  looked  with  eager  attention  to  see  which  of  the  horses 
the  gentlemen  would  choose.     When  he  saw  the  selection 


102  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

the  Prince  of  Dessau  had  made,  he  smiled,  with  the  pity- 
ing look  of  a  connoisseur. 

"  That  is  a  bad  horse,  my  dear  prince,"  he  exclaimed ; 
"  take  the  other  one,  I  will  vouch  for  him." 

After  the  prince  had  chosen  the  horse  shown  him  by 
the  king,  and  Baron  Hacke  the  other,  he  ordered  the 
most  magnificent  and  costly  saddles  to  be  placed  on  them; 
and  while  this  was  being  done,  he  looked  on  with  eager 
interest.  Behind  him  stood  the  minister  Rodewills,  and 
the  secretary  of  state,  whom  the  king  had  summoned  to 
his  presence  to  receive  his  resignation,  by  which  he  trans- 
ferred the  kingly  authority  to  his  son  the  prince  royal. 
Behind  him  stood  Frederick  and  the  queen,  the  generals 
and  the  priests.  The  king  was  unconscious  of  their  pres- 
ence; he  had  forgotten  that  he  was  dying;  he  thought 
only  of  his  horses,  and  a  dark  cloud  settled  on  his  face 
as  the  groom  buckled  a  saddle  covered  with  blue  velvet 
over  the  yellow  silk  housing  of  Prince  Anhalt's  horse. 

"  Oh,  if  I  were  only  well,  how  I  would  beat  that  stupid 
boy ! "  exclaimed  the  king,  in  a  loud,  menacing  voice. 
"  Hacke,  have  the  kindness  to  beat  him  for  me." 

The  horses  pointed  their  ears  and  neighed  loudly,  and 
the  servants  trembled  at  the  voice  of  their  master,  who 
was  speaking  to  them  as  angrily  as  ever,  but  in  a  deep, 
sepulchral  voice. 

But  his  anger  was  of  short  duration,  and  he  sank  back 
into  his  chair,  breathing  heavily  and  brokenly.  He  had 
not  the  strength  to  sign  his  resignation,  and  demanded  to 
be  taken  from  his  chair  and  placed  upon  the  bed. 

There  he  lay  motionless,  with  half-closed  eyes,  groan- 
ing and  sighing.  A  fearful  stillness  reigned  in  the  cham- 
ber of  death.  All  held  their  breath;  all  wished  to  hear 
the  last  death-sigh  of  the  king;  all  wished  to  witness  the 
mysterious  and  inscrutable  moment  when  the  soul,  free- 
ing itself  from  its  earthly  tenement,  should  ascend  to  the 
spring  of  light  and  life  as  an  invisible  but  indestructible 


AND  HIS  COURT.  103 

atom  of  divinity.  Pale  and  trembling  the  prince  leaned 
over  his  father;  the  kneeling  queen  prayed  in  a  low 
voice.  With  earnest  and  sorrowful  faces  the  generals 
and  cavaliers,  physicians  and  priests,  looked  at  this  pale 
and  ghost-like  being,  who  but  a  few  moments  before  was 
a  king,  and  was  now  a  clod  of  the  valley.  But  no,  Fred- 
erick William  was  not  yet  dead;  the  breath  that  had 
ceased  returned  to  his  breast.  He  opened  his  eyes  once 
more,  and  they  were  again  full  of  intelligence.  He  or- 
dered a  glass  to  be  given  him,  and  looked  at  himself  long 
and  attentively. 

"  I  don't  look  as  badly  as  I  thought,"  said  he,  with  the 
last  fluttering  emotion  of  human  vanity.  "  Feel  my 
pulse,  doctor,  and  tell  me  how  long  I  have  still  to  live." 

"  Your  majesty  insists  on  knowing  ?  " 

"  I  command  you  to  tell  me." 

"  Well,  then,  your  majesty  is  about  to  die,"  said  Ellert, 
solemnly. 

''  How  do  you  know  it  ?  "  he  asked,  composedly. 

"  By  your  wavering  pulse,  sire." 

The  king  held  his  arm  aloft,  and  moved  his  hand  to 
and  fro. 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  he,  "  if  my  pulse  were  failing  I  could 
not  move  my  hand;  if " 

Suddenly  he  ceased  speaking,  and  uttered  a  loud  cry, 
his  uplifted  arm  sinking  heavily  to  his  side. 

"  Jesus,  Jesus !  "  murmured  the  king,  "  I  live  and  die 
in  Thee.     Thou  art  my  trust." 

The  last  fearful  prayer  died  on  his  lips,  the  spirit  had 
flown,  and  Frederick  was  no  longer  a  living,  thinking 
being,  but  senseless,  powerless  clay. 

The  prince  royal  conducted  the  weeping  queen  from 
the  apartment.  The  courtiers  remained,  but  their  fea- 
tures were  no  longer  sad  and  sympathetic,  but  grave  and 
thoughtful.  The  tragedy  here  was  at  an  end,  and  all 
were  anxious  to  see  the  drama  from  which  the  curtain 


104  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

•was  now  to  be  drawn  in  the  apartments  of  the  prince  royal. 
Trederick  William  had  breathed  his  last,  and  was  becom- 
ing cold  and  stiff;  he  was  only  a  corpse,  with  which  one 
had  nothing  more  to  do. 

In  unseemly  haste  they  all  crowded  through  the  wide- 
ly-opened folding  doors  of  the  death-chamber,  and  has- 
tened into  the  ante-room  that  led  to  the  young  king'3 
apartments. 

Who  will  be  favored,  who  receive  the  first  rays  of  the 
rising  sun?  They  all  see  a  sunny  future  before  them. 
A  new  period  begins,  a  period  of  splendor,  abundance, 
and  joy;  the  king  is  young,  and  fond  of  display  and  gay 
festivities;  he  is  no  soldier  king,  but  a  cavalier,  a  writer, 
and  a  learned  man.  Art  and  science  will  bloom,  gal- 
lantry and  fashion  reign;  the  corporal's  baton  is  broken, 
the  flute  begins  her  soft,  melodious  reign. 

Thus  thought  all  these  waiting  courtiers  who  were  as- 
sembled in  the  young  king's  ante-chamber.  Thus  thought 
the  grand  chamberlain  Pöllnitz,  who  stood  next  to  the 
door  that  led  to  the  chamber  within.  Yes,  a  new  period 
must  commence  for  him;  his  would  be  a  brilliant  future, 
for  the  prince  royal  had  always  been  loving  and  gracious 
to  him,  and  the  young  king  must  remember  that  it  waa 
Pöllnitz  who  induced  Frederick  William  to  pay  the 
prince's  debts.  The  king  must  remember  this,  and,  for 
the  services  he  had  rendered,  raise  him  to  honor  and  dig- 
nity; he  must  be  the  favorite,  the  envied,  feared,  and 
powerful  favorite,  before  whom  all  should  bend  the  knee 
as  to  the  king  himself.  The  king  was  young,  inexperi- 
enced, and  easily  led;  he  had  a  warm  heart,  a  rich  im- 
agination, and  an  ardent  love  of  pleasure  and  splendor. 
These  qualities  must  be  cultivated  in  the  young  king; 
by  these  reins  he  would  control  him;  and  while  intoxi- 
cated with  pleasure  and  delight,  he  lay  on  his  sweet- 
scented  couch,  strengthening  himself  for  new  follies, 
Pöllnitz  would  reign  in  his  stead,  and  be  the  real  king. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  105 

These  were  no  chimeras,  no  vain  dreams,  but  a  well- 
considered  plan,  in  which  Pöllnitz  had  a  powerful  abettor 
in  the  person  of  Fredersdorf,  chamberlain  of  the  young 
king,  who  had  promised  that  he  should  be  the  first  that 
the  king  should  call  for. 

Eor  this  reason  Pöllnitz  stood  nearest  the  door;  for 
this  reason  he  so  proudly  regarded  the  courtiers  who  were 
breathlessly  awaiting  the  opening  of  that  door. 

There,  the  door  opens,  and  Fredersdorf  appears. 

"  Baron  Pöllnitz !  " 

"  Here  I  am,"  exclaimed  Pöllnitz,  casting  a  trium- 
phant look  at  his  companions,  and  following  Fredersdorf 
into  the  royal  presence. 

"  Well,  have  I  not  kept  my  promise  ? "  said  Freders- 
dorf, as  they  passed  through  the  first  room. 

"  You  have  kept  yours,  and  I  will  keep  mine ;  we  will 
reign  together." 

"  Step  in,  the  king  is  there,"  said  Fredersdorf. 

The  young  king  stood  at  the  window,  his  forehead 
resting  on  the  sash,  sighing  and  breathing  heavily,  as  if 
oppressed.  As  he  turned,  Pöllnitz  noticed  that  his  eyes 
were  red  with  weeping,  and  the  courtier's  heart  misgave 
him. 

A  young  king,  just  come  into  power,  and  not  intoxi- 
cated by  his  brilliant  fortune,  but  weeping  for  his  father's 
death!     It  augured  ill  for  the  courtier's  plans. 

"  All  hail  and  blessing  to  your  majesty ! "  exclaimed 
Pöllnitz,  bowing  with  apparent  enthusiasm  to  kiss  the 
king's  robe. 

The  king  stepped  aside,  motioned  him  off,  and  said, 
with  a  slight  smile,  "  Leave  these  ceremonies  until  the 
coronation.  I  need  you  now  for  other  things.  You  shall 
be  master  of  etiquette  and  ceremonies  at  my  court, 
and  you  will  commence  your  duties  by  making  the  neces- 
sary arrangements  for  my  father's  funeral.  Unhappily, 
I  must  begin  my  reign  by  disobeying  my  father's  com- 


106  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

mands.  I  cannot  allow  this  simple  and  modest  funeral 
to  take  place.  The  world  would  not  understand  it,  and 
would  accuse  me  of  irreverence.  'No,  he  must  be  in- 
terred with  all  the  honors  due  to  a  king.  That  is  my  de- 
sire; see  that  it  is  accomplished." 

The  grand  chamberlain  was  dismissed,  and  passed  out 
of  the  royal  chambers  lost  in  contemplation  of  his  com- 
ing greatness,  when,  suddenly  hearing  his  name,  he 
turned  .and  perceived  the  king  at  the  door. 

"  One  thing  more,  Pöllnitz,"  said  the  king,  his  eye 
resting  with  a  piercing  expression  on  the  smiling  counte- 
nance of  the  courtier ;  "  one  thing  more — above  all  things, 
no  cheating,  no  bad  jokes,  no  overrating,  no  accounts 
written  with  double  chalk.  I  will  never  forgive  any 
thing  of  this  kind,  remember  that." 

Without  awaiting  an  answer,  the  king  turned  and 
re-entered  his  room. 

Baron  Püllnitz  stared  after  him  with  widely-distended 
eyes ;  he  felt  as  if  a  thunderbolt  had  destroyed  his  future. 

This  was  not  the  extravagant,  voluptuous,  and  con- 
fiding monarch  that  Pöllnitz  had  thought  him,  but  a 
sober,  earnest,  and  frugal  king,  that  even  mistrusted  and 
saw  through  him,  the  wily  old  courtier. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

WE    ARE   KING. 

Two  days  and  nights  had  passed,  and  still  no  news 
from  the  prince  royal.  King  Frederick  William  still 
lived,  and  the  little  court  of  Rheinsberg  was  consumed 
with  impatience  and  expectation.  All  means  of  dissi- 
pation were  exhausted.     Time  had  laid  aside  its  wing, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  107 

and  put  on  shoes  of  lead.  She  flew  no  longer,  but 
walked  like  an  aged  woman.  How  long  an  hour  seems, 
when  you  count  the  seconds!  How  terribly  a  day 
stretches  out  when,  with  wakeful  but  wearied  eyes,  you 
long  for  its  close! 

Kaiserling's  wit  and  Chazot's  merry  humor,  where  are 
they?  Why  is  Bielf eld's  ringing  laugh  and  the  flute  of 
Quantz  silenced?  All  is  quiet,  all  are  silent  and  waiting, 
dreaming  of  the  happiness  in  store  for  them,  of  the  day 
of  splendor,  power,  and  magnificence  that  will  dawn 
for  the  favorites  and  friends  of  the  prince  royal  when 
he  ascends  the  throne. 

Is  it  not  a  proud  and  delightful  thing  to  be  the  con- 
fidant and  companion  of  a  king — to  spend  with  him  his 
treasures  and  riches,  to  share  with  him  the  devotion 
and  applause  of  the  people? 

Until  now  they  had  been  forced  to  disguise  their 
friendship  and  devotion  for  the  prince  royal.  They 
trembled  for  fear  of  exciting  the  king's  anger,  and  were 
in  daily  terror  of  being  banished  by  him  from  the  pres- 
ence of  their  prince. 

When  the  prince  royal  ascends  the  throne  they  will  be 
his  powerful  and  influential  favorites,  and  their  favor 
will  be  courted  by  all.  They  will  be  his  co-regents,  and 
through  and  with  him  will  rule  the  nation. 

It  is,  therefore,  not  astonishing  that  they  look  for- 
ward to  his  accession  to  the  throne  with  longing  and  im- 
patience; not  astonishing  that  they  curse  these  sluggish, 
slowly-passing  hours,  and  would  fain  have  slept,  slept  on 
until  the  great  and  blessed  moment  when  they  should  be 
awakened  with  the  news  that  their  friend  Prince  Fred- 
erick had  ascended  the  throne  of  his  fathers,  and  was 
King  of  Prussia. 

In  the  midst  of  this'  excitement  the  princess  royal 
alone  seemed  quiet  and  unconstrained.  She  was  calm 
and  composed;  she  knew  that  the  events  of  the  next  few 


108  FREDEKICK  THE  GREAT 

days  would  determine  her  whole  life;  she  feared  that  her 
happiness  hung  on  the  slender  thread  which  bound  the 
dying  king  to  life. 

But  Elizabeth  Christine  had  a  brave  heart  and  a  noble 
soul;  she  had  passed  the  night  on  her  knees  weeping  and 
praying,  and  her  heart  was  full  of  misery.  She  had  at 
last  become  quiet  and  composed,  and  was  prepared  for 
any  thing,  even  for  a  separation  from  her  husband.  If 
Frederick  expressed  such  a  wish,  she  was  determined  to 
go.  Where?  Anywhere.  Far,  far  away.  Whichever 
route  she  took,  she  was  certain  to  reach  her  destination, 
and  this  destination  was  the  grave.  If  she  could  not  live 
with  him,  she  would  die !  She  knew  this,  and  knowing  it, 
she  was  tranquil,  even  happy. 

"  I  invite  all  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  court  to 
spend  the  evening  in  my  room,"  she  said,  on  the  second 
day  of  this  painful  expectation ;  "  we  will  endeavor  to  im- 
agine that  the  prince  royal  is  in  our  midst,  and  pass  the 
hours  in  the  usual  manner;  we  will  first  go  yachting; 
afterwards  we  will  all  take  tea  together,  and  Baron  Biel- 
f eld  will  read  us  a  few  chapters  from  the  '  Henriade.' 
We  will  then  play  cards,  and  finish  the  evening  with  a 
dance.  Does  this  programme  meet  with  your  approba- 
tion ? "  All  murmured  some  words  of  assent  and  thanks, 
but  their  faces  were  nevertheless  slightly  clouded.  Per- 
ceiving this,  the  princess  royal  said :  "  It  seems  that  you 
are  not  pleased,  that  my  suggestion  does  not  meet  with 
your  approbation.  Even  the  face  of  my  little  Louise  von 
Schwerin  is  clouded,  and  the  countenance  of  my  good 
Countess  Katsch  no  longer  wears  its  pleasant  smile. 
Well,  what  is  it?  I  must  know.  Baron  Bielfeld,  I  ap- 
point you  speaker  of  this  discontented  community. 
Speak,  sir." 

The  baron  smiled  and  sighed :  "  Your  highness  spoke 
a  few  days  since  of  your  gift  of  prophecy,  and  in  fact 
you  are  a  prophetess,  and  have  seen  through  us.     It  is 


AND  HIS  COURT.  109 

certainly  a  great  happiness  and  a  great  honor  to  spend 
the  evening  in  the  apartments  of  the  princess  royal.  But 
if  your  highness  would  allow  us  to  ask  a  favor,  it  would 
be  that  our  exalted  mistress  would  condescend  to  receive 
us  either  in  the  garden  saloon  or  music  room,  and  not 
in  your  private  apartments;  for  these  apartments,  beauti- 
ful and  magnificent  as  they  are,  have  one  great,  one  ter- 
rible defect." 

"  Well,"  said  the  princess,  as  Bielf eld  concluded,  "  I 
am  curious  to  know  what  this  defect  is.  I  believed  my 
rooms  to  be  beautiful  and  charming;  the  prince  royal 
himself  regulated  their  arrangement,  and  Pesne  and 
Buisson  ornamented  them  with  their  most  beauti- 
ful paintings.  Quick  then,  tell  me  of  this  great  de- 
fect!" 

"Your  highness,  your  apartments  are  in  the  right 
wing  of  the  castle."  The  princess  looked  at  him  inquir- 
ingly, astonishment  depicted  in  her  countenance,  and 
then  laughed. 

"  Ah,  now  I  see,  my  apartments  are  in  the  right  wing 
of  the  castle;  that  is,  from  there  you  cannot  watch  the 
great  bridge,  over  which  all  that  come  from  Berlin  or 
Potsdam  must  pass.  You  are  right,  this  is  a  great  defect. 
But  the  music-room  is  in  the  left  wing,  and  from  there 
you  can  see  both  the  bridge  and  the  road.  Let  us,  then, 
adjourn  to  the  music-room  for  our  reading,  and  when  it 
becomes  too  dark  to  see,  we  will  play  cards  in  my  apart- 
ments." 

They  all  followed  the  princess  to  the  music-room, 
where  by  chance  or  out  of  mischief  the  princess  chose  the 
seat  farthest  from  the  window,  and  thus  compelled  the 
company  to  assemble  around  her.  As  they  followed  her, 
they  all  looked  longingly  through  the  window  and  to- 
ward the  bridge,  over  which  the  messenger  of  happiness 
might  at  any  moment  pass. 

Bielfeld  took  the  book  selected  by  the  princess,  and 


110  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

commenced  reading.  But  how  torturing  it  was  to  read, 
to  listen  to  these  pathetic  and  measured  Alexandrines 
from  the  "  Henriade,"  while  perchance  in  this  same  hour 
a  new  Alexander  was  placing  the  crown  upon  his  young 
and  noble  head!  In  fact,  but  little  was  heard  of  these 
harmonious  verses.  All  looked  stealthily  toward  the  win- 
dow, and  listened  breathlessly  to  every  sound  that  came 
from  the  road.  Bielfeld  suddenly  ceased  reading,  and 
looked  toward  the  window. 

"  Why  do  you  not  read  on  ?  "  said  the  princess. 

"  Excuse  me,  I  thought  I  saw  a  horse's  head  on  the 
bridge !  " 

Forthwith,  as  if  upon  a  given  signal,  they  all  flew  to 
the  windows;  the  princess  herself,  in  the  general  commo- 
tion, hastened  to  one. 

Yes!  Between  the  trees  something  was  seen  moving. 
There  it  is  coming  on  the  bridge  now !  A  peal  of  laugh- 
ter resounded  through  the  rooms.  An  ox!  Count  Biel- 
f eld's  courier  had  transformed  himself  into  an  ox ! 

They  all  stole  back  to  their  seats  in  confusion,  and  the 
reading  was  recommenced.  But  it  did  not  last  long; 
again  Bielfeld  came  to  a  stop. 

"  Pardon  me,  your  highness,  but  now  there  is  positive- 
ly a  horse  on  the  bridge." 

Again  they  all  rushed  anxiously  to  the  window.  It 
certainly  was  a  horse,  but  its  rider  was  not  a  royal  mes- 
senger, but  a  common  peasant. 

"  I  see,"  said  the  princess,  laughing,  "  that  we  must 
discontinue  our  reading.  Let  us  walk  in  the  left  wing 
of  the  garden,  and  as  near  the  gate  as  possible." 

"  Will  the  sun  never  set  ? "  whispered  Bielfeld  to 
Count  Wartensleben,  as  they  walked  up  and  down.  "  I 
fear  another  Joshua  has  arrested  its  course." 

But  it  set  at  last;  it  was  now  evening,  and  still  no 
courier  had  passed  the  bridge.  They  accepted  the  prin- 
cess' invitation,  and  hastened  to  her  apartments  and  to 


AND  HIS  COURT.  m 

the  card-tables.  And  on  this  occasion,  as  heretofore,  the 
cards  exercised  a  magic  influence  over  the  inhabitants  of 
Rheinsberg,  for  they  were  striving  to  win  that,  from  the 
want  of  which,  not  only  the  prince  but  all  his  courtiers 
had  so  often  suffered — gold!  Count  Wartensleben  had 
lately  arrived  and  brought  with  him  a  well-filled  purse, 
which  Bielfeld,  Kaiserling,  and  Chazot  were  anxious  to 
lighten. 

The  princess  played  with  her  maids  of  honor  a  game 
called  Trisset,  in  her  boudoir,  while  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany, seated  at  several  tables  in  the  adjoining  room, 
played  their  beloved  game  of  quadrille.  The  door  sud- 
denly opened,  and  a  valet  appeared.  In  passing  the 
table  at  which  Count  Wartensleben,  Bielfeld,  and  several 
ladies  were  playing,  he  stealthily  showed  them  a  letter 
with  a  black  seal,  which  he  was  about  to  deliver  to  the 
princess. 

"  The  king  is  then  dead ! "  murmured  they,  hastily 
throwing  their  cards  on  the  table;  the  counters  fell  to- 
gether, but  they  looked  at  them  in  disdain.  What  cared 
they  for  a  few  lost  pennies,  now  that  their  prince  had  be- 
come king? 

Count  Wartensleben  arose  and  said  in  a  solemn  voice : 
"  I  will  be  the  first  to  greet  the  princess  as  queen,  and  I 
will  exert  every  effort  to  utter  the  word  '  majesty '  in  a 
full,  resounding  tone." 

"  I  will  follow  you,"  said  Bielfeld,  solemnly. 

And  both  advanced  to  the  open  door,  through  which 
the  princess  could  be  seen  still  occupied  in  reading  her 
letter.  She  seemed  unusually  gay,  and  a  bright  smile 
played  upon  her  lips.  Accidentally  looking  up,  she  per- 
ceived the  two  cavaliers  advancing  slowly  and  solemnly 
toward  her. 

"  Ah,  you  know,  then,  that  a  courier  has  at  last  crossed 
that  fatal  bridge,  and  you  come  for  news  of  the  prince 
royal?" 


112  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Prince  royal  ? "  repeated  Wartensleben,  in  amaze- 
ment.    "  Is  he  still  the  prince  royal  ?  " 

"  You  then  thought  he  was  king ! "  exclaimed  the 
princess,  "  and  came  to  greet  me  as  your  queen  ?  " 

"  Yes,  your  highness,  and  the  word  '  majesty '  was  al- 
ready on  my  lips." 

They  all  laughed  heartily,  and  jested  over  this  mis- 
take, but  were  nevertheless  thankful  when  they  were  at 
last  dismissed  and  were  allowed  to  retire  to  their  rooms. 
When  entirely  alone,  the  princess  drew  from  her  bosom 
the  letter  she  had  received,  to  read  it  once  more;  she 
cast  a  loving  and  tender  glance  at  the  characters  his 
hand  had  traced,  and  as  her  eyes  rested  on  his  signature, 
she  raised  the  paper  to  her  lips  and  kissed  it. 

"  Frederick,"  whispered  she,  "  my  Frederick,  I  love 
you  so  deeply  that  I  envy  this  paper  which  has  been 
touched  by  your  hand,  and  upon  which  your  glorious 
eyes  have  rested.  No,  no,"  said  she,  "he  will  not  cast 
me  off.  Is  it  not  written  here — '  In  a  few  days  I  and  the 
people  will  greet  you  as  Queen.'  No,  he  could  not  be  so 
cruel  as  to  set  the  crown  on  my  head,  and  then' cover  it 
with  ashes.  If  he  acknowledges  me  as  his  wife  and 
queen  before  his  people,  and  before  Germany,  it  must  be 
his  intention  never  to  disown  me,  but  to  let  me  live  on  by 
his  side.  Oh,  he  must  surely  know  how  truly  I  love  him, 
although  I  have  never  had  the  courage  to  tell  him  so. 
My  tears  and  my  sighs  must  have  whispered  to  him  the 
secret  of  my  love,  and  he  will  have  compassion  with  a 
poor  wife  who  asks  but  to  be  permitted  to  adore  and 
worship  him.  And  who  knows  but  that  he  may  one 
day  be  touched  by  this  great  love,  that  he  will  one  day 
raise  up  the  poor  woman  who  now  lies  trembling  at  his 
feet,  and  press  her  to  his  bosom.  Oh,  that  this  may 
be  so,  my  God ;  let  it  be,  and  then  let  me  die !  " 

She  sank  back  on  her  couch,  and,  pressing  the  letter 
to   her   lips,  whispered   softly:  "Good-night,   Frederick, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  113 

my  Frederick ! "  She  smiled  sweetly  as  she  slept.  Per- 
haps she  was  dreaming  of  him. 

A  deep  silence  soon  reigned  throughout  the  castle. 
All  the  lights  were  extinguished.  Sleep  spread  its  wings 
over  all  these  impatient  and  expectant  hearts,  and  fanned 
them  into  forgetfulness  and  peaceful  rest. 

All  slept,  and  now  the  long-expected  courier  is  at  last 
passing  over  the  bridge,  which  trembled  beneath  his 
horse's  feet,  but  none  hear  him,  all  are  sleeping  so  sound- 
ly. His  knocks  resound  through  the  entire  castle.  It  is 
the  herald  of  the  new  era,  which  sheds  its  first  bright 
morning  rays  over  the  evening  of  the  dark  and  gloomy 
past. 

Now  all  are  awake,  and  running  to  and  fro  through 
the  halls,  each  one  burning  with  eagerness  to  proclaim 
the  joyful  news :  "  Frederick  is  no  longer  prince  royal. 
Frederick  is  king  and  the  ruler  of  Prussia !  " 

Bielfeld  is  awakened  by  a  loud  knocking;  he  springs 
hastily  out  of  bed  and  opens  the  door  to  his  friend 
Knobelsdorf .  "  Up,  up,  my  friend,"  exclaims  the  latter. 
"  Dress  quickly.  We  must  go  down  and  congratulate  the 
queen;  we  must  be  ready  to  accompany  her  immediately 
to  Berlin.  Frederick  William  is  dead,  and  we  will  now 
reign  in  Prussia." 

"  Ah,  another  fairy  tale,"  said  Bielfeld  dressing  has- 
tily ;  "  a  fairy  tale,  by  which  we  have  been  too  often  de- 
ceived to  believe  in  its  truth." 

"  ISTo,  no,  this  time  it  is  true.  The  king  is  dead,  quite 
dead!  Jordan  has  received  orders  to  embalm  the  corpse, 
and  once  in  his  hands,  it  will  never  come  to  life  again." 

Bielfeld  being  now  ready,  the  two  friends  hurried  to 
the  ante-chamber  that  led  to  the  princess  royal's  apart- 
ments. The  entire  court  of  the  new  queen  had  assembled 
in  this  chamber,  and  they  were  endeavoring  to  suppress 
their  joy  and  delight,  and  to  look  grave  and  earnest  in 
consideration  of  the  solemnity   of  the  occasion.     They 


114  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

conversed  in  whispers,  for  the  bed-chamber  of  the  prin- 
cess was  next  to  this  room,  and  she  still  slept. 

"  Yes,  the  princess  royal  sleeps,  but  when  she  awakes 
she  will  be  a  queen!  She  must  be  awakened,  to  receive 
her  husband's  letter." 

The  Countess  Katsch,  with  two  of  Elizabeth's  maids  of 
honor,  entered  her  bed-chamber,  well  armed  with  smell- 
ing-bottles and  salts.  Elizabeth  Christine  still  slept.  But 
on  so  important  an  occasion  the  sleep  even  of  a  princess 
was  not  considered  sacred.  The  countess  drew  back  the 
curtains,  and  Elizabeth  was  awakened  by  the  bright  glar- 
ing light.  She  looked  inquiringly  at  the  countess,  who 
approached  her  with  a  low  and  solemn  courtesy. 

"  Pardon  me  for  waking  your  majesty " 

"Majesty,  why  'your  majesty?'"  said  the  princess, 
quickly.  "  Has  another  ox  or  horse  crossed  the  fatal 
bridge  ? " 

"  Yes,  your  majesty,  but  it  was  Baron  Villich's  horse, 
and  he  brought  the  news  that  King  Frederick  William 
expired  yesterday  at  Potsdam.  I  have  a  smelling-bottle 
here,  your  majesty;  allow  me  to  hold " 

The  young  queen  pushed  back  the  smelling-bottle; 
she  did  not  feel  in  the  least  like  fainting,  and  her  heart 
beat  higher. 

"  And  has  the  baron  brought  no  letter  for  me  ?  "  said 
she,  breathlessly. 

"  Here  is  a  letter,  your  majesty." 

The  queen  hastily  broke  the  seal.  It  contained  but  a 
few  lines,  but  they  were  in  her  husband's  handwriting, 
and  were  full  of  significance.  To  her  these  few  lines  in- 
dicated a  future  full  of  splendor,  happiness,  and  love. 
The  king  called  her  to  share  with  him  the  homage  of  his 
subjects.  It  is  true  there  was  not  a  word  of  tenderness 
or  love  in  the  letter,  but  the  king  called  her  to  his  side; 
he  called  her  his  wife. 

Away,  then,  away  to  Berlin,  where  her  husband  was 


AND  HIS  COURT.  115 

awaiting  her;  where  the  people  would  greet  her  as  their 
queen;  where  a  new  world,  a  new  life  would  unfold  itself 
before  her;  a  life  of  proud  enjoyment!  For  Elizabeth 
will  be  the  queen,  the  wife  of  Frederick.  Away,  then,  to 
Berlin ! 

The  queen  received  the  congratulations  of  her  court 
in  the  music-room.  And  now  to  Berlin,  where  a  new  sun 
has  risen,  a  King  Frederick  the  Second ! 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

ROYAL    GRACE    AND    ROYAL    DISPLEASURE. 

The  cannon  thundered,  the  bells  rang  loudly  and 
merrily;  the  garrison  in  Berlin  took  the  oath,  as  the  gar- 
rison in  Potsdam  had  done  the  day  before. 

The  young  king  held  his  first  great  court  to-day  in 
the  White  Saloon.  From  every  province,  from  every 
State,  from  every  corporation,  deputations  had  arrived  to 
look  upon  the  long-hoped-for  king,  the  liberator  from  op- 
pression, servitude,  and  famine.  Delight  and  pure  un- 
qualified joy  reigned  in  every  heart,  and  those  who  looked 
upon  the  features  of  Frederick,  illuminated  with  kindli- 
ness and  intellect,  felt  that  for  Prussia  it  was  the  dawn- 
ing of  a  new  era. 

But  who  was  called  to  assist  in  organizing  this  new 
movement?  Whom  had  the  king  chosen  from  amongst 
his  friends  and  servants?  whom  had  he  set  aside?  upon 
whom  would  he  revenge  himself?  Truth  to  tell,  there 
were  many  now  standing  in  the  White  Saloon  who  had 
often,  perhaps,  in  obedience  to  the  king's  command, 
brought  suffering  and  bitter  sorrow  upon  the  prince 
royal;  many  were  there  who  had  humbled  him,  misused 


116  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

his  confidence,  and  often  brought  down  his  father's  rage 
and  scorn  upon  him. 

Will  the  king  remember  these  things,  now  that  he  has 
the  power  to  punish  and  revenge  his  wrongs  ?  Many  had 
entered  the  White  Saloon  trembling  with  anxiety;  timid- 
ly keeping  in  the  distance;  glad  that  the  eye  of  the  king 
did  not  rest  upon  them;  glad  to  slip  unseen  into  a  corner. 

But  nothing  escaped  the  eye  of  Frederick;  he  had  re- 
marked the  group  standing  in  the  far-off  window;  he 
Tznderstood  full  well  their  restless,  disturbed,  and  anxious 
glances.  A  pitiful  and  sweet  smile  spread  over  his  noble 
features,  an  expression  of  infinite  gentleness  illumined 
his  face;  with  head  erect  he  drew  near  to  this  group,  who, 
with  the  instinct  of  a  common  danger,  pressed  more  close- 
ly together,  and  awaited  their  fate  silently. 

Who  had  so  often  and  so  heavily  oppressed  the  prince 
as  Colonel  Derchau?  who  had  mocked  at  him  and  perse- 
cuted him  so  bitterly?  who  had  carried  out  the  harsh 
commands  of  the  king  against  him  so  unrelentingly?  It 
was  Derchau  and  Grumbkow  who  presided  at  the  first 
cruel  trial  of  "  Captain  Fritz,"  and  had  repeated  to  him 
the  hard  and  threatening  words  of  the  king.  "  Captain 
Fritz  "  had  wept  with  rage,  and  sworn  to  revenge  himself 
upon  these  cruel  men.  Will  the  king  remember  the  oath 
of  the  captain?  The  king  stood  now  near  the  colonel; 
his  clear  eye  was  fixed  upon  him.  This  man,  who  had 
prepared  for  him  so  many  woes,  now  stood  with  bowed 
head  and  loudly-beating  heart,  completely  in  his  power. 
Suddenly,  with  a  rash  movement,  the  king  extended  his 
hand,  and  said,  mildly: 

"  Good-day,  Derchau."  It  was  the  first  time  in  seven 
years  that  Frederick  had  spoken  to  him,  and  this  simple 
greeting  touched  his  heart;  he  bowed  low,  and  as  he 
kissed  the  outstretched  hand,  a  hot  tear  fell  upon  it. 
"  Colonel  Derchau,"  said  the  king,  "  you  were  a  faithful 
and  obedient  servant  to  my  royal  father;  you  have  punc- 


AND   HIS  COURT.  117 

tually  followed  his  wishes  and  given  him  unconditional 
obedience.  It  becomes  me  to  reward  my  father's  faithful 
subject.     From  to-day  you  are  a  major-general." 

As  the  king  turned,  his  eye  fell  upon  the  privy  coun- 
cillor Von  Eckert,  and  the  mild  and  conciliating  expres- 
sion vanished  from  his  features;  he  looked  hard  and 
stern. 

"  Has  the  coat-of-arms  been  placed  upon  the  house  in 
Jager  Street  ?  "  said  the  king. 

"  No,  your  majesty." 

"  Then  I  counsel  you  not  to  have  it  done ;  this  house 
is  the  property  of  the  crown,  and  it  shall  not  be  sacrificed 
by  such  folly.  Go  home,  and  there  you  will  receive  my 
commands." 

Pale  and  heart-broken,  Eckert  glided  from  the  group; 
mocking  laughter  followed  his  steps  through  the  sa- 
loons; no  one  had  a  word  of  regret  or  pity  for  him;  no 
one  remembered  their  former  friendship  and  oft-repeated 
assurances  of  service  and  gratitude.  He  passed  trem- 
blingly through  the  palace;  as  he  reached  the  outer  door, 
Pöllnitz  stepped  before  him;  a  mocking  smile  played 
upon  his  lips,  and  his  glance  betrayed  all  the  hatred 
which  he  had  been  compelled  to  veil  or  conceal  during 
the  life  of  Frederick  William. 

"Now,"  said  he,  slowly,  "will  you  send  me  the  wine 
which  you  promised  from  your  cellar?  You  under- 
stand, the  wine  from  your  house  in  Jager  Street,  for 
which  I  arranged  the  coat-of-arms !  ^ih,  those  were 
charming  days,  my  dear  privy  councillor!  You  have 
often  broken  your  word  of  honor  to  me,  often  slandered 
me,  and  brought  upon  me  the  reproaches  of  the  king. 
I  have,  however,  reason  to  be  thankful  to  you;  this  house 
which  you  have  built  in  Jager  Street  is  stately  and  hand- 
some, and  large  enough  for  a  cavalier  of  my  pretensions. 
You  have,  also,  at  the  cost  of  the  king,  furnished  it  with 
such  princely  elegance  that  it  is  in  all  things  an  appro- 

MuHLBACH  6  Vol.  1 


118  FREDERICK   THE  GREAT 

prlate  residence  for  a  cavalier.  Do  you  not  remember  my 
description  of  such  a  house?  The  king  called  it  then  a 
Spanish  air-castle.  You,  great-hearted  man,  have  made 
my  castle  in  the  air  a  splendid  reality,  and  now  that  it  is 
finished  and  furnished,  you  will,  in  your  magnanimity, 
leave  that  house  to  me.  I  shall  be  your  heir !  You  know, 
my  dear  Eckert,  that  the  privy  councillor  is  dead,  and 
only  the  chimney- builder  lives;  and  even  the  adroit 
chimney-builder  is  banished  from  Berlin,  and  must  re- 
main twenty  miles  away  from  his  splendid  home.  But 
tell  me,  Eckert,  when  one  of  my  chimneys  smokes,  may 
I  not  send  a  messenger  to  you,  will  you  not  promise  me  to 
come  and  put  things  in  order  for  me  ?  " 

Eckert  muttered  some  confused  words,  and  tried  to 
force  Pöllnitz  from  the  door,  befoie  which  the  hard- 
hearted, spiteful  courtier  had  placed  himself,  like  the 
angel  with  the  avenging  sword. 

"You  wish  to  go,"  said  he,  with  assumed  kindliness. 
"  Oh,  without  doubt  you  wish  to  see  the  royal  commands 
now  awaiting  you  at  your  house.  I  can  tell  you  literally 
the  sentence  of  the  king:  you  have  lost  your  office,  your 
income,  your  rank,  and  you  are  banished  from  Berlin! 
that  is  all.  The  king,  as  you  see,  has  been  gracious;  he 
could  have  had  you  executed,  or  sent  to  Spandau  for  life, 
but  he  would  not  desecrate  his  new  reign  with  your  blood. 
For  this  reason  was  he  gracious." 

"Let  me  pass,"  said  Eckert,  trembling,  and  pale  as 
death.     "  I  am  choking !  let  me  out !  " 

Pöllnitz  still  held  him  back.  "  Do  you  not  know, 
good  man,  that  a  thousand  men  stand  below  in  the  court- 
yard? do  you  not  hear  their  shouts  and  rejoicings?  Well, 
these  hurrahs  will  be  changed  into  growls  of  rage  when 
the  people  see  you,  my  dear  Eckert;  in  their  wild  wrath 
they  might  mistake  you  for  a  good  roast,  with  which  to 
quiet  their  hunger.  You  know  that  the  people  are 
hungry;  you,  who  filled  the  barns  of  the  king  with  grain. 


AND  ms  COURT.  HQ 

and  placed  great  locks  and  bars  upon  the  doors,  lest  the 
people,  in  their  despairing  hunger,  might  seize  upon  the 
corn!  You  even  swore  to  the  king  that  the  people  had 
enough,  and  did  not  need  his  corn  or  his  help!  Listen, 
the  people  shout  again;  I  will  not  detain  you.  Go  and 
look  upon  this  happy  people.  The  king  has  opened  the 
granaries  and  scattered  bread  far  and  wide,  and  the  tax 
upon  meal  is  removed  for  a  month.*  Go,  dear  Eckert, 
go  and  see  how  happy  the  people  are ! " 

With  a  wild  curse  Eckert  sprang  from  the  door;  Pöll- 
nitz  followed  him  with  a  mocking  glance.  "  Revenge  is 
sweet,"  he  said,  drawing  a  long  breath ;  "  he  has  often 
done  me  wrong,  and  now  I  have  paid  him  back  with  usury. 
Eckert  is  lost.  Would  that  I  had  his  house!  I  must 
have  it!  I  will  have  it!  Oh,  I  will  make  myself  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  the  king ;  I  will  flatter,  I  will  praise,  I 
will  find  out  and  fulfil  his  most  secret,  his  unspoken  wishes. 
I  will  force  him  to  give  me  his  confidence — to  make  me 
his  maitre  de  plaisir.  Yes,  yes,  the  house  in  Jager  Street 
shall  be  mine!  I  have  sworn  it,  and  Eredersdorf  has 
promised  me  his  influence.  And  now  to  the  king;  I 
must  see  for  myself  if  this  young  royal  child  can,  like 
Hercules  in  his  cradle,  destroy  serpents  on  the  day  of  his 
birth ;  or,  if  he  is  a  king,  like  all  other  kings,  overcome  by 
flattery,  idle  and  vain,  knowing  or  acknowledging  no  laws 
over  himself,  but  those  of  his  own  conscience  and  his 
hon  plaisir.  But  hark!  that  is  the  king's  voice;  to  whom 
is  he  speaking  ?  " 

Pöllnitz  hastened  into  the  adjoining  room;  the  king 
was  standing  in  the  midst  of  his  ministers,  and  a  deputa- 
tion of  magistrates  of  Berlin,  and  was  in  the  act  of  dis- 
missing them. 

"  I  command  you,"  said  the  king,  in  conclusion,  turn- 
ing to  his  ministers,  "  as  often  as  you  think  it  necessary 
to  make  any  changes  in  my  orders  and  regulations,  tO 

*  See  King's  "  History  of  Berlin,"  vol.  v.    The  king's  own  words. 


120  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

make  known  your  opinions  to  me  freely,  and  not  to  be 
weary  in  so  doing ;  I  may,  unhappily,  sometimes  lose 
sight  of  the  true  interests  of  my  subjects;  I  am  resolved 
that  whenever  in  future  my  personal  interest  shall  seem 
to  be  contrary  to  the  welfare  of  my  people,  their  happi- 
ness shall  receive  the  first  consideration." 

"  Alas,  it  will  be  very  difficult  to  tame  this  youthful 
Hercules ! "  murmured  Pöllnitz,  glancing  toward  the 
king,  who  was  just  leaving  the  apartment;  "the  serpents 
that  we  will  twine  about  him  must  be  strong  and  allur- 
ing; now  happily  Fredersdorf  and  myself  are  acquainted 
with  some  such  serpents,  and  we  will  take  care  that  he 
finds  them  in  his  path." 

In  the  mean  time  the  king  had  left  the  reception- 
room,  and  retired  to  his  private  apartments,  where  the 
friends  and  confidants  from  Rheinsberg  awaited  him 
with  hopeful  hearts.  They  were  all  ready  to  receive  the 
showers  of  gold,  which,  without  doubt,  would  rain  down 
upon  them.  They  were  all  convinced  that  the  young 
king  would  lay  upon  them,  at  least,  a  corner  of  the  mantle 
of  ermine  and  purple  with  which  his  shoulders  should 
be  adorned.  They  alone  would  be  chosen  to  aid  in  bear- 
ing the  burden  of  his  kingly  crown  and  royal  sceptre. 
They  were  all  dreaming  of  ambassadorships,  presidencies, 
and  major-generals'   epaulettes. 

As  the  king  entered,  they  received  him  with  loud  cries 
of  joy.  The  Margrave  Henry,  who  had  often  borne  a 
part  in  the  gay  fetes  at  Rheinsberg,  hastened  to  greet  the 
king  with  gay,  witty  words,  and  both  hands  extended. 
Frederick  did  not  respond  to  this  greeting;  he  did  not 
smile;  looking  steadily  at  the  Margrave,  he  stepped  back 
and  said : 

"Monsieur,  now  I  am  the  king;  no  longer  the  gar- 
dener at  Rheinsberg."  The  king  read  the  pained  aston- 
ishment in  the  faces  of  his  friends  who,  one  moment  be- 
fore, had  been  so  hopeful,  so  assured;  he  advanced  and 


AND  HIS  COURT.  121 

said,  in  a  kindly  tone,  "  "We  are  no  longer  in  Rheinsberg. 
The  beautiful  proverb  of  Horace  belongs  to  our  past — 
*  Folly  is  sweet  in  its  season.'  There  I  was  the  gardener 
and  the  friend — here  I  am  the  king;  here  all  must  work, 
and  each  one  must  use  his  talents  and  his  strength  in  the 
service  of  the  State,  and  thus  prove  to  the  people  that 
the  prince  had  reason  to  choose  him  for  a  friend." 

"  And  may  I  also  be  a  partaker  of  that  grace  and  be 
counted  amongst  the  friends  of  the  king  ? "  said  the  old 
Prince  of  Anhalt  Dessau,  who,  with  his  two  sons,  had 
just  entered  and  heard  the  last  words  of  Frederick ;  "  will 
your  majesty  continue  to  me  and  my  sons  the  favor  which 
your  ever-blessed  father  granted  to  us  during  so  many 
long  and  happy  years?  Oh,  your  majesty,  I  beseech  you 
to  be  gracious  to  us,  and  grant  us  the  position  and  in- 
fluence which  we  have  so  long  enjoyed."  So  saying,  the 
old  prince  bent  his  knee  to  his  youthful  monarch.  The 
king  bowed  his  head  thoughtfully,  and  a  smile  played 
upon  his  lips;  he  gave  his  hand  to  the  prince,  and  com- 
manded him  to  rise. 

"  I  will  gladly  leave  you  your  place  and  income,  for  I 
am  sure  you  will  serve  me  as  faithfully  and  zealously  as 
you  did  my  father.  As  regards  the  position  and  in- 
fluence which  you  desire,  I  say  to  you  all,  no  man  under 
my  reign  will  have  position  but  I  myself,  and  not  even  my 
best  friend  will  exercise  the  slightest  influence  over  me." 

The  friends  from  Rheinsberg  turned  pale,  and  ex- 
changed stolen  glances  with  each  other.  There  was  no 
more  jesting;  the  hand  of  ice  had  been  laid  upon  their 
beating  hearts,  and  the  wings  of  hope  were  broken.  The 
king  did  not  seem  to  remark  the  change ;  he  drew  near  to 
his  friend  Jordan,  and  taking  his  arm,  walked  to  the  win- 
dow, and  spoke  with  him  long  and  earnestly. 

The  courtiers  and  favorites  looked  after  their  happy 
friend  with  envious  glances,  and  observed  every  shade 
in  the  countenances  of  the  king  and  Jordan.    The  king 


122  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

was  calm,  but  an  expression  of  painful  surprise  settled 
like  a_clo\id  upon  Jordan.  Now  the  king  left  the  win= 
dow,  and  called  Bielfeld  to  him;  spoke  with  him  also 
long  and  gravely,  and  then  dismissed  him,  and  nodded  to 
Chazot  to  join  him ;  lastly  he  took  the  arm  of  the  Duke  of 
Wartensleben,  and  walked  backward  and  forward,  chat- 
ting with  him.  The  duke  was  radiant  with  joy,  but  the 
other  courtiers  looked  suspicious  and  lowering ;  with  none 
of  them  had  he  spoken  so  long;  no  other  arm  had  he  so 
familiarly  taken.  It  was  clear  that  Wartensleben  was 
the  declared  favorite  of  the  king;  he  had  driven  them 
from  the  field. 

The  king  observed  all  this;  he  had  read  the  envy, 
malice,  rage,  and  melancholy  in  the  faces  of  his  friends; 
he  knew  them  all  too  well;  had  too  long  observed  them, 
not  to  be  able  to  read  their  thoughts.  It  had  pleased  him 
to  sport  awhile  with  these  small  souls,  so  filled  with  sel- 
fishness, envy,  and  every  evil  passion;  he  wished  to  give 
them  a  lesson,  and  bring  them  down  from  their  dizzy 
and  imaginary  heights  to  the  stern  realities  of  life.  The 
king  had  used  Wartensleben  as  his  instrument  for  this 
purpose,  and  now  must  the  poor  duke's  wings  be  clipped. 
The  mounting  waves  of  his  ambition  must  be  quieted  by 
the  oil  of  truth. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  king,  "  I  am  the  ruler  of  a  kingdom ; 
I  have  a  great  army  and  a  well-filled  treasury,  you  can- 
not doubt  that  it  is  my  highest  aim  to  make  my  country 
blossom  as  the  rose;  to  uphold  the  reputation  of  my 
army,  and  to  make  the  best  use  of  my  riches.  The  gold 
is  there  to  circulate;  it  is  there  to  reward  those  who 
faithfully  serve  their  fatherland;  but  above  all  other 
things  it  is  there  for  those  who  are  truly  my  friends." 

The  features  of  the  young  duke  were  radiant  with  ex- 
pectation; as  the  king  saw  this,  a  mocking  smile  flashed 
from  his  eye. 

"I  will,  however,  naturally  know  how  to  distinguish 


AND  HIS  COURT.  123 

between  my  friends,  and  those  who  do  not  need  gold  will 
not  receive  it.  You,  for  example,  my  dear  duke,  are  enor- 
mously rich;  you  will  content  yourself,  therefore,  with 
my  love,  as  you  will  naturally  never  receive  a  dollar  from 
me."  So  speaking,  he  nodded  kindly  to  the  duke,  passed 
into  the  next  room,  and  closed  the  door  behind  him. 
Grave  and  dumb,  the  friends  from  Rheinsberg  gazed  upon 
each  other;  each  one  regarded  the  other  as  his  successful 
rival,  and  thought  to  see  in  him  what  he  had  not  become 
— a  powerful  favorite,  a  minister,  or  general.  All  felt 
their  love  growing  cold,  and  almost  hated  the  friends  who 
stood  in  their  way.  Jordan  was  the  first  who  broke  si- 
lence.    Reaching  his  hand  to  Bielfeld,  he  said: 

"  It  must  not  be  thought  that  disappointed  hopes  have 
hardened  our  hearts,  and  that  envy  blinds  us  to  the  ad- 
vantages of  our  friends.  I  love  you,  Bielfeld,  because  of 
your  advantages  and  talents;  and!  understand  full  well 
why  the  king  advances  you  before  me.  Receive  also 
my  good  wishes,  and  be  assured  that  from  the  heart  I  re- 
joice in  your  success." 

Bielfeld  looked  amazed.  "  My  success ! "  said  he. 
"  Dear  friend,  you  need  not  be  envious ;  and  as  to  my  ad- 
vancement, it  is  so  small  an  affair  that  I  can  scarcely 
find  it.  The  king  said  he  intended  me  for  a  diplomatist, 
but  that  I  needed  years  of  instruction.  With  this  view 
he  had  selected  me  to  accompany  Duke  Triickfess  to 
Hanover.  When  I  returned  from  there,  I  would  receive 
further  orders.  This  is  my  promotion,  and  you  must  con- 
fess I  make  a  small  beginning.  But  you,  dear  Jordan, 
what  important  position  have  you  received?  You  are 
the  king's  dearest  friend,  and  he  has  without  doubt  ad- 
vanced you  above  us  all.  I  acknowledge  that  you  merit 
this.     Tell  us  also  what  are  you  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  cried  they  all  eagerly,  "  what  are  you  ?  Are 
you  minister  of  State  or  minister  of  Church  affairs  ? " 

"  What  am  12"  cried  Jordan,  laughing.    "  I  will  tell 


124  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

you,  my  friends.  I  am  not  minister  of  Church  affairs;  I 
am  not  minister  of  State.  I  am — ah,  you  will  never 
guess  what  I  am — I  belong  to  the  police!  I  must  re- 
move the  beggars  from  the  streets  of  Berlin,  and  found  a 
workhouse  for  them,  itfow,  dear  friends,  am  I  not  en- 
viable ? "  For  a  moment  all  were  silent ;  then  every  eye 
was  fixed  upon  Wartensleben. 

"  And  you,  dear  duke,  are  you  made  happy  ?  You 
have  cut  open  the  golden  apple;  you  have  the  longed-for 
portfolio." 

"  I ! "  cried  the  duke,  half  angry,  half  merry.  "  I 
have  nothing,  and  will  receive  nothing.  I  will  tell  you 
what  the  king  said  to  me.  He  assured  me  earnestly  and 
solemnly  that  I  was  rich  enough,  and  would  never  re- 
ceive a  dollar  from  him." 

At  this  announcement  they  all  broke  out  in  uproari- 
ous laughter.  "  Let  us  confess,"  said  Bielfeld,  "  that  we 
have  played  to-day  a  rare  comedy — a  farce  which  Moliere 
might  have  written,  and  which  must  bear  the  title  of 
La  Journee  des  Dupes.  Kow,  as  we  have  none  of  us  be- 
come distinguished,  let  us  all  be  joyful  and  love  each 
other  dearly.  But  listen!  the  king  plays  the  flute;  how 
soft,  how  melting  is  the  sound !  " 

Yes,  the  king  played  the  flute;  he  cast  out  with  those 
melodious  strains  the  evil  spirit  of  ennui  which  the  tire- 
some etiquette  of  the  day  had  brought  upon  him.  He 
played  the  flute  to  recover  himself — to  regain  his  cheerful 
spirit  and  a  clear  brow.  Soon  he  laid  it  aside,  and  his 
eye  rested  upon  the  unopened  letters  and  papers  with 
which  the  table  was  covered.  Yes,  he  must  open  all 
these  letters,  and  answer  them  himself,  he  alone.  No- 
body should  do  his  work;  all  should  work  only  through 
him;  no  one  should  decree  or  command  in  Prussia  but 
the  king.  Every  thing  should  flow  from  him.  He  would 
be  the  heart  and  soul  of  his  country. 

Frederick  opened  and  read  the  letters,  and  wrote  the 


AND  HIS  COURT.  125 

answer  on  the  margin  of  the  paper,  leaving  it  to  the  secre- 
tary to  copy.  And  now  the  work  was  almost  done;  the 
paper  with  the  great  seal,  which  he  now  opened,  was  the 
last. 

This  was  a  declaration  from  the  Church  department, 
which  announced  that,  through  the  influence  of  the 
Catholic  schools  in  Berlin,  many  Protestants  had  be- 
come Catholics.  Did  not  his  majesty  think  it  best  to 
close  these  schools?  A  pitiful  smile  played  upon  the  lips 
of  Frederick  as  he  read.  "  And  they  say  they  believe  in 
one  God,  and  their  priests  and  ministers  preach  Christian 
forbearance  and  Christian  love,  while  they  know  nothing 
of  either.  They  have  not  God,  but  the  Church,  always 
before  their  eyes ;  they  are  intolerant  in  their  hearts,  im- 
perious, and  full  of  cunning.  I  will  bend  them,  and 
break  down  their  assumed  power.  My  whole  life  will  be 
a  battle  with  priests;  they  will  mock  at  me,  and  call  me 
a  heretic.  Let  the  Church  be  ever  against  me,  if  my  own 
conscience  absolves  me.  Now  I  will  begin  the  war,  and 
what  I  now  write  will  be  a  signal  of  alarm  in  the  tents 
of  all  the  pious  priests." 

He  took  up  the  paper  again  and  wrote  on  the  margin, 
"  All  religions  shall  be  tolerated.  The  magistrates  must 
have  their  eyes  open,  and  see  that  no  sect  imposes  on  an- 
other. In  Prussia  each  man  shall  be  saved  in  his  own 
way."  * 

*  Busching.    The  king's  wordu. 


126  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 


BOOK  IL 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE   GARDEN  OF  MONBIJOU. 

The  excitement  of  the  first  days  was  quieted.  The 
young  king  had  withdrawn  for  a  short  time  to  the  palace 
in  Charlottenburg,  while  his  wife  remained  in  Berlin, 
anxiously  expecting  an  invitation  to  follow  her  husband. 

But  the  young  monarch  appeared  to  have  no  care  or 
thought  but  for  his  kingdom.  He  worked  and  studied 
without  interruption;  even  his  beloved  flute  was  un- 
touched. 

Berlin  was,  according  to  etiquette,  draped  with  mourn- 
ing for  a  few  days;  it  served  in  this  instance  as  a  veil 
to  the  joy  with  which  all  looked  forward  to  the  coronation 
of  the  new  king.  All  appeared  earnest  and  solemn,  but 
every  heart  was  joyful  and  every  eye  beaming.  The  pal- 
ace of  the  king  was  silent  and  deserted;  the  king  was, 
as  we  have  said,  at  Charlottenburg;  the  young  queen  was 
in  the  palace  formerly  occupied  by  the  prince  royal,  and 
the  dowager  queen  Sophia  Dorothea  had  retired  with  the 
two  princesses,  Ulrica  and  Amelia,  to  the  palace  of  Mon- 
bijou.  All  were  anxious  and  expectant;  all  hoped  for  in- 
fluence and  honor,  power  and  greatness.  The  scullion 
and  the  maids,  as  well  as  the  counts  and  princes,  and 
even  the  queen  herself,  dreamed  of  happy  and  glorious 
days  in  the  future. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  127 

Sophia  Dorothea  had  been  too  long  a  trembling,  sub- 
jugated woman;  she  was  rejoicing  in  the  thought  that 
she  might  at  length  be  a  queen.  Her  son  would  doubtless 
grant  to  her  all  the  power  which  had  been  denied  her  by 
her  husband;  he  would  remember  the  days  of  tears  and 
bitterness  which  she  had  endured  for  his  sake;  and  now 
that  the  power  was  in  his  hands  she  would  be  repaid  a 
thousandfold.  The  young  king  would  hold  the  sceptre  in 
his  hands,  but  he  must  allow  his  mother  to  aid  in  keeping 
it  upright ;  and  if  he  found  it  too  weighty,  the  queen  was 
ready  to  bear  it  for  him,  and  reign  in  his  stead,  while  her 
dreamy  son  wrote  poems,  or  played  on  the  flute,  or  phi- 
losophized with  his  friends.  Frederick  was  certainly  not 
formed  to  rule;  he  was  a  poet  and  a  philosopher;  he 
dreamed  of  a  Utopia;  he  imagined  an  ideal  which  it  was 
impossible  to  realize.  The  act  of  ruling  would  be  a 
weary  trial  to  him,  and  the  sounds  of  the  trumpet  but  ill 
accord  with  his  harmonious  dreams. 

But  happily  his  mother  was  there,  and  was  willing  to 
reign  for  him,  to  bear  upon  her  shoulders  the  heavy 
burdens  and  cares  of  the  kingdom,  to  work  with  the 
ministers,  while  the  king  wrote  poetical  epistles  to  Vol- 
taire. 

Why  should  not  Sophia  Dorothea  reign?  Were  there 
not  examples  in  all  lands  of  noble  women  who  governed 
their  people  well  and  honorably?  Was  not  England 
proud  of  her  Elizabeth,  Sweden  of  her  Christina,  Spain 
of  Isabella,  Eussia  of  Catharine?  and  even  in  Prussia 
the  queen  Sophia  Charlotte  had  occupied  a  great  and 
glorious  position.  Why  could  not  Sophia  Dorothea  ac- 
complish as  much  or  even  more  than  her  predecessor? 

These  were  the  thoughts  of  the  queen  as  she  walked 
up  and  down  the  shady  paths  of  the  garden  of  Monbijou, 
and  listened  with  a  proud  smile  to  the  flattering  words 
of  Count  Manteuffel,  who  had  just  handed  her  a  letter 
of  condolence  from  the  Empress  of  Austria. 


128  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Her  majesty  the  empress  has  sent  me  a  most  loving 
and  tender  letter  to-day,"  said  the  dowager  queen,  with 
an  ironical  smile. 

"  She  has  then  only  given  expression  to-day,  to  those 
sentiments  which  she  has  always  entertained  for  your 
majesty,"  said  the  count,  respectfully. 

The  queen  bowed  her  head  smilingly,  but  said,  "  The 
houses  of  Hohenzollern  and  Hapsburg  have  never  been 
friendly ;  it  is  not  in  their  nature  to  love  one  another." 

"  The  great  families  of  Capulet  and  Montague  said 
the  same,"  remarked  Count  Manteuffel,  "  but  the  anger 
of  the  parents  dissolved  before  the  love  of  the  children." 

"  But  we  have  not  arrived  at  the  children,"  said  the 
queen  proudly,  as  she  thought  how  her  husband  had  been 
deceived  by  the  house  of  Austria,  and  recalled  that,  on 
his  death-bed  he  had  commanded  his  son  Frederick  to 
revenge  those  treacheries. 

"Pardon  me,  your  majesty,  if  I  dare  to  contradict 
you;  we  have  most  surely  arrived  at  the  children,  and  the 
difficulties  of  the  parents  are  forgotten  in  their  love.  Is 
not  the  wife  of  the  young  king  the  deeply-loved  niece  of 
the  Austrian  empress  ?  " 

"  She  was  already  his  wife,  count,  as  my  husband 
visited  the  emperor  in  Bohemia,  and  it  was  not  con- 
sidered according  to  etiquette  for  the  emperor  to  offer  his 
hand  to  the  King  of  Prussia."  * 

"  She  was,  however,  not  his  wife  when  Austria,  by  her 
repeated  and  energetic  representations,  saved  the  life  of 
the  prince  royal.  For  your  majesty  knows  that  at  one 
time  that  precious  life  was  threatened." 

"  It  was  threatened,  but  it  would  have  been  preserved 
without  the  assistance  of  Austria;  for  the  mother  of 
Frederick  was  at  hand,  and  that  mother  was  sister  to  the 
King  of  England."  And  the  queen  cast  on  the  count 
so  proud  and  scornful  a  glance  that  his  eyes  fell  involun- 

*  Seckendorf  s  Leben. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  129 

tarily  to  the  ground.  Sophia  Dorothea  saw  this,  and 
smiled.  This  was  her  triumph;  she  would  now  show  her- 
self mild  and  forgiving.  "  We  will  speak  no  more  of  the 
past,"  she  said,  in  a  friendly  manner.  "  The  death  of  my 
husband  has  cast  a  dark  cloud  over  it,  and  I  must  think 
only  of  the  future,  that  my  son,  the  young  king,  may  not 
always  behold  me  with  tears  in  my  eyes.  No,  I  will  look 
forward,  for  I  have  a  great  presentiment  that  Prussia's 
future  will  be  great  and  glorious." 

"  Would  that  it  might  be  thus  for  the  whole  of  Ger- 
many ! "  cried  the  count.  "  It  must  be  so,  if  the  houses 
of  Hohenzollern  and  Hapsburg  will  forget  their  ancient 
quarrels,  and  live  together  in  love  and  peace." 

"  Let  Hapsburg  extend  to  us  the  hand  of  love  and 
peace;  show  us  her  sympathy,  her  justice,  and  her  grati- 
tude, in  deeds,  not  words." 

"  Austria  is  prepared  to  do  so,  your  majesty !  the 
question  is,  whether  Prussia  will  grasp  her  hand  and 
place  upon  it  the  ring  of  love." 

The  queen  glanced  up  so  quickly  that  she  perceived 
the  dark  and  threatening  look  of  the  count.  "  Austria  is 
again  making  matrimonial  plans,"  she  said,  with  a  bitter 
smile.  "  She  is  not  satisfied  with  one  marriage,  such  as 
that  of  her  imperial  niece,  she  longs  for  a  repetition  of 
this  master-work.  But  this  time,  count,  there  is  no  dear 
one  to  be  saved  at  any  cost  from  a  prison,  this  time  the 
decision  can  be  deferred  until  the  arrival  of  all  the  cou- 
riers." And  the  queen,  dismissing  the  count  with  a  slight 
bow,  recalled  her  ladies  of  honor,  who  were  lingering 
at  a  short  distance,  and  passed  into  one  of  the  other 
walks. 

Count  ManteufPel  remained  where  the  queen  had  left 
him,  looking  after  her  with  an  earnest  and  thoughtful 
countenance.  "  She  is  prouder  and  more  determined 
than  formerly,"  he  murmured ;  "  that  is  a  proof  that  she 
will  be  influential,  and  knows  her  power.     What  she  said 


130  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

of  the  courier  was  without  doubt  an  allusion  to  the  one 
who  arrived  an  hour  too  late,  with  the  consent  of  Eng- 
land, on  the  betrothal  day  of  the  prince  royal.  Ah! 
there  must  be  other  couriers  en  route,  and  one  of  them 
was  most  probably  sent  to  England.  We  must  see  that 
he  arrives  an  hour  too  late,  as  the  former  one  did."  At 
this  instant,  and  in  his  immediate  vicinity,  Manteuffel 
heard  a  soft  and  melodious  voice  saying,  "  No,  count,  you 
can  never  make  me  believe  in  your  love.  You  are  much 
too  blond  to  love  deeply." 

"  Blond !  "  cried  a  manly  voice,  with  a  tone  of  horror. 
"You  do  not  like  fair  hair,  and  until  now  I  have  been 
so  proud  of  mine.  But  I  will  have  it  dyed  black,  if  you 
will  promise  to  believe  in  my  love."  The  lady  replied 
with  a  light  laugh,  which  brought  an  answering  smile 
to  the  countenance  of  Count  Manteuffel.  "It  is  my 
ally,  Madame  von  Brandt,"  he  said  to  himself.  "  I  was 
most  anxious  to  see  her,  and  must  interrupt  her  tender 
tete-a-tete  with  Count  Voss  for  one  moment."  So  speak- 
ing, the  count  hurried  to  the  spot  from  which  he  had 
heard  the  voices  of  Madame  von  Brandt  and  her  lan- 
guishing lover.  The  count  approached  the  lady  with 
the  most  delighted  countenance,  and  expressed  his  as- 
tonishment at  finding  his  beautiful  friend  in  the  garden 
of  the  dowager  queen. 

"  Her  majesty  did  me  the  honor  to  invite  me  to  spend 
a  few  weeks  here,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt.  "  She 
knew  that  my  physician  had  ordered  me  to  the  country, 
as  the  only  means  to  restore  my  health ;  and  as  she  knows 
of  my  great  intimacy  with  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz, 
one  of  her  ladies  of  honor,  she  was  so  kind  as  to  offer  me 
a  few  rooms  at  Monbijou.  Now  I  have  explained  to  you 
the  reason  of  my  presence  here  as  minutely  as  if  you 
were  my  father  confessor,  and  nothing  remains  to  be  done 
but  to  present  you  to  my  escort.  This  is  Count  Voss,  a 
noble  cavalier,  a  sans  peur  et  sans  reproche,  ready  to 


AND  HIS  COURT.  131 

sacrifice  for  his  lady  love,  if  not  his  life,  at  least  his  fair 
hair." 

"  Beware,  my  dear  count,"  said  Manteuffel,  laughing, 
"beware  that  the  color  of  your  hair  is  not  changed  by 
this  lovely  scoffer — that  it  does  not  become  a  venerable 
gray.  She  is  sufficiently  accomplished  in  the  art  of 
enchantment  to  do  that ;  I  assure  you  that  JMadame  von 
Brandt  plays  a  most  important  role  in  the  history  of  my 
gray  hairs." 

"Ah!  it  would  be  delightful  to  become  gray  in  the 
service  of  Madame  von  Brandt,"  said  the  young  count, 
in  so  pathetic  a  tone  that  his  companions  both  laughed. 
"  As  often  as  I  look  at  my  gray  hair  I  would  think  of  her." 
And  the  young  count  gazed  into  the  distance,  like  one  en- 
tranced, and  his  smiling  lips  whispered  low,  unintelligible 
words. 

"  This  is  one  of  his  ecstatic  moments,"  whispered 
Madame  von  Brandt.  "  He  has  the  whim  to  consider 
himself  an  original;  he  imagines  himself  a  Petrarch  en- 
amored of  his  Laura.  We  will  allow  him  to  dream 
awhile,  and  speak  of  our  own  affairs.  But  be  brief,  I  beg 
of  you,  for  we  must  not  be  found  together,  as  you  are  a 
suspicious  character,  my  dear  count,  and  my  innocence 
might  be  doubted  if  we  were  seen  holding  a  confidential 
conversation." 

"  Ah,  it  is  edifying  to  hear  Madame  von  Brandt  speak 
like  a  young  girl  of  sixteen,  of  her  threatened  innocence. 
But  we  will  tranquillize  this  timidity,  and  be  brief.  In 
the  first  place,  what  of  the  young  queen  ? " 

"  State  of  barometer :  cold  and  damp,  falling  weather, 
stormy,  with  unfulfilled  hopes,  very  little  sunshine,  and 
very  heavy  clouds." 

"  That  means  that  the  queen  is  still  fearful  of  being 
slighted  by  her  husband." 

"  She  is  no  longer  fearful — he  neglects  her  already. 
The  king  is  at  Charlottenburg,  and  has  not  invited  the 


132  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

queen  to  join  him.  As  a  husband,  he  slights  his  wife; 
whether  as  king  he  will  neglect  his  queen,  only  time  will 
reveal." 

"  And  what  of  Madame  von  Morien  ?  " 

"  The  king  seems  to  have  forgotten  her  entirely  since 
that  unhappy  quid  pro  quo  with  the  poem  at  Kheinsberg; 
his  love  seems  to  have  cooled,  and  he  converses  with  her 
as  harmlessly  and  as  indifferently  as  with  any  other  lady. 
No  more  stolen  words,  secret  embraces,  or  amorous  sighs. 
The  miserable  Morien  is  consumed  with  sorrow,  for  since 
she  has  been  neglected  she  loves  passionately." 

"And  that  is  unhappily  not  the  means  to  regain  that 
proud  heart,"  said  Count  Manteuffel,  shrugging  his 
shoulders.  "  With  tears  and  languishing  she  will  lose  her 
influence,  and  only  gain  contempt.  You  who  are  the 
mistress  of  love  and  coquetry  should  understand  that, 
and  instruct  your  beautiful  pupil.  Xow,  however,  comes 
the  most  important  question.  What  of  the  marriage  of 
the  Prince  Augustus  William  ?  " 

Madame  von  Brandt  sighed.  "You  are  really  inex- 
orable. Have  you  no  compassion  for  the  noble,  heartfelt 
love  of  two  children,  who  are  as  pure  and  innocent  as 
the  stars  in  heaven  ?  " 

"  And  have  you  no  compassion  for  the  diamonds  which 
long  to  repose  upon  your  lovely  bosom?"  said  Count 
Manteuffel ;  "  no  compassion  for  the  charming  villa 
which  you  could  purchase?  You  positively  refuse  to  ex- 
cite the  envy  of  all  the  ladies  at  court  by  possessing  the 
most  costly  cashmere?     You  will " 

"  Enough,  Count  Devil !  you  are  in  reality  more  a 
devil  than  a  man,  for  you  lead  my  soul  into  temptation. 
I  must  submit.  I  will  become  a  serpent,  reposing  on 
the  bosom  of  my  poor  Laura,  poisoning  her  love  and 
lacerating  her  heart.  Ah,  count,  if  you  knew  how  my 
conscience  reproaches  me  when  I  listen  to  the  pure  and 
holy  confession  of  her  love,  when  trembling  and  blushing 


AND  HIS  COURT.  I33 

she  whispers  to  me  the  secrets  of  her  youthful  heart, 
and  flies  to  me  seeking  protection  against  her  own  weak- 
ness !  Remember  that  these  two  children  love  each  other, 
without  ever  having  had  the  courage  to  acknowledge  it. 
Laura  pretends  not  to  understand  the  deep  sighs  and  the 
whispered  words  of  the  prince,  and  then  passes  the  long 
nights  in  weeping." 

"  If  that  is  the  case,  it  is  most  important  to  prevent  an 
understanding  between  these  singular  lovers.  You  must 
exert  all  your  influence  with  the  young  lady  to  induce  her 
to  close  this  romance  with  an  heroic  act,  which  will  make 
her  appear  a  holy  martyr  in  the  eyes  of  the  prince." 

"  But,  for  example,  what  heroic  act  ?  " 

"  Her  marriage." 

"But  how  can  we  find  a  man  so  suddenly  to  whom 
this  poor  lamb  can  be  sacrificed  ? " 

"  There  is  one,"  said  the  count,  pointing  to  Count 
Voss,  who  appeared  to  have  forgotten  the  whole  world, 
and  was  occupied  writing  verses  in  his  portfolio. 

Madame  von  Brandt  laughed  aloud.  "  He  marry  the 
beautiful  Laura !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  count,  earnestly,  "  he  seeks  a  Laura." 

"  Yes,  but  you  forget  that  he  considers  me  his  Laura." 

"  You  can,  therefore,  easily  induce  him  to  make  this 
sacrifice  for  you;  he  will  be  magnified  in  his  own  eyes, 
if,  in  resigning  you,  he  gives  himself  to  the  lady  you 
have  selected." 

"You  are  terrible,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt.  "I 
shudder  before  you,  for  I  believe  you  have  no  human 
emotiofts  in  your  heart  of  iron." 

"There  are  higher  and  nobler  considerations,  to 
which  such  feelings  must  yield.  But  see,  the  count  has 
finished  his  poem.  To  work  now,  my  beautiful  ally;  to- 
day you  must  perfect  your  masterpiece;  and  now,  fare- 
well," said  the  count,  kissing  her  hand,  as  he  left  her 
side. 


134  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

Madame  von  Brandt  approached  the  young  count, 
who  seemed  to  be  again  lost  in  thought.  She  placed  her 
hand  lightly  on  his  shoulder,  and  whispered,  half  tenderly, 
half  reproachfully,  "  Dreamer,  where  are  your  thoughts  ?  " 

"  With  you,"  said  the  count,  who  trembled  and  grew 
pale  at  her  touch.  "  Yes,  with  you,  noblest  and  dearest 
of  women;  and  as  that  tiresome  gossip  prevented  me 
from  speaking  to  you,  I  passed  the  time  he  was  here  in 
writing." 

"  But  you  did  not  remember,"  said  she,  tenderly,  "  that 
you  were  compromising  me  before  Count  Manteuffel, 
who  will  not  hesitate  to  declare  in  what  intimate  relation- 
ship we  stand  to  one  another.  Only  think  of  writing 
without  apology,  while  a  lady  and  a  strange  gentleman 
were  at  your  side !  " 

"  The  world  will  only  exclaim  '  What  an  original ! '  " 
said  Count  Voss,  with  a  foolish,  but  well-pleased  smile. 

"  But  it  will  also  say  that  this  original  shows  little 
consideration  for  Madame  von  Brandt;  that  he  must, 
therefore,  be  very  intimate  with  her.  The  reputation  of 
a  woman  is  so  easily  injured;  it  is  like  the  wing  of  the 
butterfly,  so  soon  as  the  finger  touches  it  or  points  at  it, 
it  loses  its  lustre;  and  we  poor  women  have  nothing  but 
our  good  name  and  unspotted  virtue.  It  is  the  only 
shield — the  only  weapon — that  we  possess  against  the 
cruelty  of  man,  and  you  seek  to  tear  that  from  us,  and, 
then  dishonored  and  humiliated,  you  tread  us  under 
foot!" 

"  You  are  weeping !  "  cried  the  count,  looking  at  his 
beloved,  in  whose  eyes  the  tears  really  stood — "  you  are 
weeping!  I  am  truly  a  great  criminal  to  cause  you  to 
shed  tears." 

"  No,  you  are  a  noble  but  most  thoughtless  man,"  said 
Madame  von  Brandt,  smiling  through  her  tears.  "  You 
betray  to  the  world  what  only  God  and  we  ourselves 
should  know." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  135 

"  Heavens !  what  have  I  betrayed  ? "  cried  the  poor 
frightened  count. 

"  You  have  betrayed  our  love,"  whispered  Madame 
von  Brandt,  as  she  glanced  tenderly  at  the  count. 

"  What !  our  love  ?  "  he  cried,  beside  himself  with  de- 
light ;  "  you  admit  that  it  is  not  I  alone  who  love  ?  " 

"  I  admit  it,  but  at  the  same  time  declare  that  we  must 
part." 

"  Never !  no,  never !  No  power  on  earth  shall  part 
us,"  said  he,  seizing  her  hand,  and  covering  it  with 
kisses. 

"  But  there  is  a  power  which  has  the  right  to  separate 
us — the  power  of  my  husband.  He  already  suspects  my 
feelings  for  you,  and  he  will  be  inexorable  if  he  discovers 
that  his  suspicions  are  correct." 

"  Then  I  will  call  him  out,  and  he  will  fall  by  my 
hand,  and  I  shall  bear  you  in  triumph  as  my  wife  to  my 
castle." 

"But  if  you  should  fall?" 

"  Ah !  I  had  not  thought  of  that,"  murmured  the 
count,  turning  pale.  "  That  would  be  certainly  a  most 
unhappy  accident.  We  will  not  tempt  fate  with  this 
trial,  but  seek  another  way  out  of  our  difficulty.  Ah,  I 
know  one  already.     You  must  elope  »with  me." 

She  said,  with  a  sad  smile,  "  The  arm  of  the  king  ex- 
tends far  and  wide,  and  my  husband  would  follow  us  with 
his  vengeance  to  the  end  of  the  world." 

"  But  what  shall  we  do  ?  "  cried  the  count,  despairing- 
ly; "we  love  each  other;  separated,  we  must  be  con- 
sumed with  grief  and  sorrow.  Ah!  ah!  shall  I  really 
suffer  the  fate  of  Petrarch,  and  pass  my  life  in  an  eternal 
dirge  ?     Is  there  no  way  to  prevent  this  ?  " 

Madame  von  Brandt  placed  her  hand  with  a  slight 
but  tender  pressure  on  his.  "  There  is  one  way,"  she 
whispered,  "  a  way  to  reassure,  not  only  my  husband, 
but  the  whole  world,  which  will  cast  a  veil  over  our  love, 


136  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

and  protect  us  from  the  wickedness  and  calumny  of 
man." 

"  Show  me  this  way,"  he  exclaimed,  "  and  if  it  should 
cost  half  of  my  fortune  I  would  walk  in  it,  if  I  could 
hope  to  gain  your  love." 

She  bent  her  head  nearer  to  him,  and,  with  a  most 
fascinating  and  tender  glance,  whispered,  "  You  must 
marry,  count." 

He  withdrew  a  step,  and  uttered  a  cry  of  horror.  "  I 
must  marry!  You  desire  it — you  who  profess  to  love 
me?" 

"  Because  I  love  you,  dearest,  and  because  your 
marriage  will  break  the  bands  of  etiquette  which 
divide  us.  You  must  marry  a  lady  of  my  acquaintance, 
perhaps  one  of  my  friends,  and  then  no  one,  not 
even  my  husband,  will  consider  our  friendship  remarka- 
ble." 

"  Oh !  I  see  it ;  there  is  no  other  way,"  sighed  the 
count.     "  If  I  were  only  married  now !  " 

"  Oh !  you  ungrateful,  faithless  man,"  cried  Madame 
von  Brandt,  indignantly.  "You  long  already  for  your 
marriage  with  the  beautiful  young  woman,  in  whose 
love  I  shall  be  forgotten." 

"  Oh !  you  are  well  aware  that  I  only  wish  to  be  mar- 
ried because  you  desire  it." 

"  Prove  this  by  answering  that  you  will  not  refuse  to 
marry  the  lady  I  shall  point  out  to  you." 

"  I  swear  it." 

"  You  swear  that  you  will  marry  no  other  than  the  one 
I  name  ?  You  swear  that  you  will  overcome  all  obstacles, 
and  be  withheld  by  no  prayers  or  reproaches  ? " 

"  I  swear  it." 

"  On  the  word  of  a  count  ?  " 

"  On  the  word  of  a  count.  Show  me  the  lady,  and  I 
will  marry  her  against  the  will  of  the  whole  world." 

"  But  if  the  lady  should  not  love  you  ? " 


AND   HIS  COURT.  137 

"Why  should  I  care?  Do  I  love  her?  Do  I  not 
marry  her  for  your  sake  alone  ? " 

"Ah!  my  friend,"  cried  Madame  von  Brandt,  "I  see 
that  we  understand  one  another.  Come,  and  I  will  show 
you  your  bride." 

She  placed  her  arm  in  his,  and  drew  him  away.  Her 
eye  gleamed  with  a  wild,  menacing  light,  and  she  said 
sneeringly  to  herself,  "  I  have  selected  a  rich  husband  for 
my  beautiful  Laura,  and  have  bartered  my  soul  for  dia- 
monds and  cashmeres,  and  the  gratitude  of  an  empress." 


CHAPTER   IL 

THE  queen's  maid  OP  HONOR. 

After  her  interview  with  Count  Manteufifel,  the 
queen  Sophia  Dorothea  left  the  garden,  and  retired  to  her 
chamber.  She  dismissed  her  maids  of  honor  for  a  few 
hours,  requesting  them  to  admit  no  one  to  her  presence. 
She  wished  to  consider  and  develop  her  plans  in  undis- 
turbed quiet.  She  felt  that  Austria  was  again  prepared 
to  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  her  favorite  project — an 
English  marriage  for  one  of  her  children.  She  wished  to 
sharpen  her  weapons,  and  marshal  her  forces  for  the  ap- 
proaching combat. 

For  a  few  hours,  therefore,  the  maids  of  honor  were 
free  to  follow  their  own  inclinations,  to  amuse  themselves 
as  they  thought  fit. 

Laura  von  Pannewitz  had  declined  accompanying  the 
other  ladies  in  their  drive.  Her  heart  required  solitude 
and  rest.  For  her  it  was  a  rare  and  great  pleasure  to 
listen  in  undisturbed  quiet  to  the  sweet  voices  which  whis- 
pered in  her  heart,  and  suffused  her  whole  being  with,  de- 
light. 


138  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

It  was  so  sweet  to  dream  of  him — to  recall  his  words, 
his  smiles,  his  sighs;  all  those  little  shades  and  signs 
which  seemed  so  unimportant  to  the  careless,  but  which 
convey  so  much  to  the  loving  observer ! 

He  had  written  to  her  yesterday,  and  she — she  had 
had  the  cruel  courage  to  return  his  letter  unopened.  But 
she  had  first  pressed  it  to  her  lips  and  to  her  heart  with 
streaming  eyes,  and  had  then  fallen  on  her  knees  to  pray 
to  God,  and  to  implore  him  to  give  her  strength  and  cour- 
age to  overcome  her  heart,  to  renounce  his  love. 

Since  then  an  entire  day  had  passed,  and  she  had  not 
seen  him,  had  heard  nothing  of  him.  Oh,  he  must  be 
sad  and  very  angry  with  her;  he  wished  never  to  see  her 
again.  And  because  he  was  angry,  and  wished  to  hold 
himself  aloof  from  her,  he,  the  loving  and  attentive  son, 
had  even  neglected  to  pay  the  accustomed  morning  visit 
to  his  royal  mother,  which  he  had  never  before  omitted. 

Her  heart  beating  hurriedly,  and  weeping  with  an- 
gmsh,  Laura  had  been  standing  before  her  window  curtain 
avraiting  him,  and  had  prayed  to  God  that  she  might  see 
him,  or  at  least  hear  his  voice  in  the  distance.  But  the 
prince  did  not  arrive,  and  now  the  time  had  passed  at 
which  he  was  accustomed  to  come.  The  queen  had  al- 
ready retired  to  her  study,  and  would  admit  no  one. 

Laura  could,  therefore,  no  longer  hope  to  see  the 
prince  Augustus  William  on  this  day.  As  she  thought  of 
this,  she  felt  as  if  a  sword  had  pierced  her  bosom,  and 
despair  took  possession  of  her  heart.  She  threw  herself 
on  her  knees,  wrung  her  hands,  and  prayed  to  God,  not 
for  strength  and  courage  to  renounce  him  as  before,  but 
for  a  little  sunshine  on  her  sad  and  sorrowful  love.  Ter- 
rified at  her  own  prayer,  she  had  then  arisen  from  her 
knees,  and  had  hurried  to  the  room  of  Madame  von 
Brandt,  to  take  refuge  from  her  own  thoughts  and  sor- 
rows in  the  bosom  of  a  friend. 

But  her  friend  was  not  there,  and  she  was  told  that 


AND  HIS  COURT.  I39 

Madame  von  Brandt  had  gone  down  into  the  garden. 
Laura  took  her  hat  and  shawl,  and  sought  her.  As  she 
walked  down  the  shady  avenue,  her  glowing  cheeks  and 
burning  eyes  were  cooled  by  the  gentle  breeze  wafted  over 
from  the  river  Spree,  and  she  felt  soothed ;  something  like 
peace  stole  into  her  heart.  Laura  had  forgotten  that  she 
had  come  to  the  garden  to  seek  her  friend;  she  felt  only 
that  the  calm  and  peace  of  nature  had  quieted  her  heart; 
that  solitude  whispered  to  her  soul  in  a  voice  of  con- 
solation and  of  hope.  Hurriedly  she  passed  on  to  the 
denser  and  more  solitary  part  of  the  garden,  where  she 
could  give  herself  up  to  dreams  of  him  whose  image  still 
filled  her  heart,  although  she  had  vainly  endeavored  to 
banish  it. 

She  now  entered  the  conservatory  at  the  foot  of  the 
garden,  which  had  been  converted  into  a  beautiful  and 
charming  saloon,  for  the  exclusive  use  of  the  queen  and 
her  maids  of  honor.  There  were  artificial  arbors  of 
blooming  myrtle  and  orange,  in  which  luxurious  little 
sofas  invited  to  repose;  grottoes  of  stone  had  been  con- 
structed, in  the  crevices  of  which  rare  mountain  plants 
were  growing.  There  were  little  fountains  which  mur- 
mured and  flashed  pleasantly,  and  diffused  an  agreeable 
coolness  throughout  the  atmosphere.  Laura  seated  her- 
self in  one  of  the  arbors,  which  was  covered  with  myrtle, 
and,  in  a  reclining  position,  her  head  resting  on  the 
trunk  of  an  aged  laurel-tree,  which  formed  part  of  the 
framework  of  the  arbor,  she  closed  her  eyes  that  she 
might  see  nothing  but  him. 

It  was  a  lovely  picture,  the  beautiful  and  noble 
countenance  of  this  young  girl,  enclosed  as  it  were  in  a 
frame  of  living  myrtle ;  her  delicate  but  full  and  maidenly 
figure  reclining  against  the  trunk  of  the  tree,  to  which 
the  chaste  and  timid  love  of  a  virgin  had  once  given  life. 
She  also  was  a  Daphne,  fleeing  from  her  own  desires, 
fleeing  from  the  sweetly-alluring  voice  of  her  lover,  who. 


140  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

to  her,  was  the  god  of  beauty  and  of  grace,  the  god  of 
learning  and  the  arts — her  Apollo,  whom  she  adored  and 
believed  in,  whom  she  feared,  and  from  whom  she  fled 
like  Daphne,  because  she  loved  him.  For  a  woman  flees 
only  from  him  whom  she  loves;  she  fears  him  only  who 
isi  dangerous,  not  because  his  words  of  tenderness  and 
flattery  are  alluring,  but  because  her  own  heart  pleads 
for  him. 

Laura  was  still  sitting  in  the  arbor,  in  a  dreamy  rev- 
erie. His  image  filled  her  thoughts ;  her  love  was  prayer, 
her  prayer  love.  Her  hands  lay  folded  in  her  lap;  a 
sweet,  dreamy  smile  played  about  her  lips,  and  from 
under  her  closed  eyelids  a  few  tears  were  slowly  rolling 
down  her  soft,  rosy  cheeks.  She  had  been  praying  to  God 
to  give  her  strength  to  conquer  her  own  heart,  and  to 
bear,  without  murmiiring  and  without  betraying  herself, 
the  sorrow,  the  anger,  and  even  the  indifference  of  the 
prince.  Still  she  felt  that  her  heart  would  break  if  he 
should  desert  and  forget  her.  An  alluring  voice  whis- 
pered that  it  would  be  a  more  blissful  end  to  die,  after 
an  hour  of  ecstatic  and  intoxicating  happiness,  than  to 
renounce  his  love,  and  still  die. 

But  the  chaste  Laura  did  not  wish  to  hear  this  voice; 
she  would  drown  it  with  her  prayers ;  and  still,  even  while 
she  prayed,  she  thought  how  great  and  sublime  a  happi- 
ness it  would  be  to  kiss  the  lips  of  her  beloved,  to  whisper 
in  his  ear  the  long-concealed,  long-buried  secret  of  her 
love.  And  then  his  kiss  still  on  her  lips,  and  in  the  sun- 
shine of  his  eyes,  to  fall  down  and  die! — exchanging 
heaven  for  heaven;  redeeming  bliss  with  bliss.  And 
sweeter  dreams  and  more  painful  fantasies  came  over  her ; 
heavier  and  heavier  sank  her  eyelids;  a  weight  of  sorrow 
rested  on  her  heart,  and  made  it  weary  unto  death;  until 
at  the  last,  like  the  disciples  on  the  Mount,  she  slept  for 
very  sorrow. 

The  silence  was  profound.     Suddenly  stealthy  foot- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  14J 

steps  could  be  heard,  and  the  figure  of  a  man  appeared 
at  the  entrance  of  the  grotto.  Cautiously  he  stepped 
forward,  and  east  an  inquiring  glance  through  the  trail- 
ing vines  which  overhung  the  grotto,  to  the  young  girl 
who  still  slumbered,  reclining  on  the  trunk  of  the  laurel- 
tree.  It  was  Fritz  Wendel,  the  gardener  of  Eheinsberg. 
Queen  Sophia  Dorothea  had  desired  to  have  her  green- 
houses and  flower-beds  arranged  in  the  style  of  those  at 
Rheinsberg.  And,  by  command  of  the  young  king,  sev- 
eral of  the  most  expert  gardeners  of  Rheinsberg  had  been 
sent  to  Berlin  to  superintend  this  arrangement  in  the 
garden  of  Monbijou.  Fortune  had  favored  the  young 
gardener,  and  had  again  brought  him  near  her  he  loved. 
For  the  little  maid  of  honor,  Louise  von  Schwerin,  was 
not  only  the  favorite  of  Queen  Elizabeth,  but  Queen 
Sophia  Dorothea  also  loved  this  saucy  and  sprightly 
young  girl,  who,  because  she  was  a  child,  and  as  such  was 
excusable,  was  allowed  to  break  in  upon  court  etiquette 
with  her  merry  laughter,  and  to  introduce  an  element 
of  freshness  and  vivacity  into  the  stiff  forms  of  court  life. 
Moreover,  by  her  thoughtless  and  presumptuous  behavior 
at  Rheinsberg,  she  had  lost  favor  with  the  young  couple 
who  now  reigned  in  Prussia.  Queen  Elizabeth  could  not 
forget  that  it  was  through  Louise  she  had  learned  the 
name  of  her  happy  rival.  And  the  king  was  angry  with 
her,  because,  through  her,  the  secret  of  his  verses  to  Ma- 
damo  von  Morien  had  been  discovered.  Louise  von 
Schwerin  was  rarely  with  Queen  Elizabeth.  Sophia 
Dorothea,  however,  kept  this  young  girl  near  her  person 
for  whole  days.  Her  childish  ways  amused  the  queen, 
and  her  merry  pranks  drove  the  stiff  and  formal  mistress 
of  ceremonies,  and  the  grave  and  stately  cavaliers  and 
ladies  of  the  court,  to  despair.  And  the  little  maid  of 
honor  came  to  then  queen  willingly,  for  Monbijou  had  for 
her  a  great  charm  since  the  handsome  gardener,  Fritz 
Wendel,  had  been  there.    The  romance  with  this  young 

MuHLBACH  7  Vol.  1 


142  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

man  had  not  yet  come  to  an  end;  this  secret  little  love 
affair  had  a  peculiar  charm  for  the  young  girl;  and  as 
no  other  admirer  had  been  found  for  the  little  Louise, 
she  for  the  present  was  very  well  pleased  with  the  adora- 
tion of  the  young  gardener,  to  whom  she  was  not  the  "  lit- 
tle Louise,"  but  the  bewitching  fairy,  the  beautiful  god- 
dess. It  was  Fritz  Wendel  who  appeared  at  the  entrance 
of  the  grotto,  and  looked  anxiously  toward  the  sleeping 
Laura.  He  had  been  occupied  in  arranging  the  plants 
and  flowers  in  this  conservatory,  which  had  been  confided 
to  his  especial  care.  As  the  queen  never  entered  the 
garden  at  this  time,  this  hour  had  been  set  apart  for  his 
labors. 

In  the  midst  of  his  occupation  he  was  interrupted  by 
the  entrance  of  Laura  von  Pannewitz,  and  had  hastily  re- 
tired to  the  grotto,  intending  to  remain  concealed  until 
the  lady  should  have  left  the  conservatory.  From  his 
hiding-place,  concealed  by  the  dense  Indian  vines,  he 
could  see  the  myrtle  arbor  in  which  the  beautiful  Laura 
reposed;  and  now,  seeing  that  she  slept,  he  advanced 
slowly  and  cautiously  from  the  grotto.  He  listened  atten- 
tively to  her  slow  and  regular  breathing — yes,  she  really 
slept;  he  might  therefore  stealthily  leave  the  saloon. 

"  Ah,  if  it  were  she !  "  he  murmured ;  "  if  it  were  she  1 
I  would  not  leave  here  so  quietly.  I  would  find  courage 
to  fall  down  at  her  feet  and  to  clasp  her  to  my  arms, 
while  pressing  my  lips  to  hers,  to  suppress  her  cry  of 
terror.  But  this  lady,"  said  he,  almost  disdainfully,  turn- 
ing to  the  sleeping  Laura,  "  is  so  little  like  her — that  she 
is " 

The  words  died  on  his  lips,  and  he  hastily  retreated 
to  the  entrance  of  the  grotto.  He  thought  he  heard 
footsteps  approaching  the  conservatory.  The  door  of 
the  vestibule  creaked  on  its  hinges,  and  again — Fritz 
Wendel  slipped  hastily  into  the  grotto,  and  concealed 
himself  behind  the  dense  vines. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  143 

On  the  threshold  of  the  saloon  stood  a  young  man, 
who  looked  searchingly  around.  His  tall  and  graceful 
figure  was  clad  in  the  uniform  of  the  guards,  which  dis- 
played his  well-knit  form  to  great  advantage.  The  star 
on  his  breast,  and  the  crape  which  he  wore  on  his  arm,  an- 
nounced a  prince  of  the  royal  house;  his  beautifully- 
formed  and  handsome  features  wore  an  expression  of  al- 
most effeminate  tenderness.  The  glance  of  his  large  blue 
eyes  was  so  soft  and  mild,  that  those  who  observed  him 
long,  were  involuntarily  touched  with  an  inexplicable 
feeling  of  pity  for  this  noble-looking  youth.  His  broad 
brow  showed  so  much  spirit  and  determination  that  it 
was  evident  he  was  not  always  gentle  and  yielding,  but 
had  the  courage  and  strength  to  follow  his  own  will  if 
necessary. 

It  was  Prince  Augustus  William,  the  favorite  of  the 
deceased  king,  on  whose  account  the  elder  brother  Fred- 
erick had  suffered  so  much,  because  the  king  had  endeav- 
ored to  establish  the  former  as  his  successor  to  the  throne 
in  the  place  of  his  first-born.* 

But  the  prince's  inclinations  were  not  in  accordance 
with  the  wishes  of  his  father;  Augustus  William  desired 
no  throne,  no  earthly  power;  in  his  retiring  modesty  he 
disliked  all  public  display;  the  title  of  royal  highness  had 
no  charm  for  him,  and  with  the  indifference  of  a  true 
philosopher  he  looked  down  upon  the  splendor  and  mag- 
nificence of  earthly  glory. 

In  his  brother  Frederick,  the  disdain  of  outward  pomp 
might  be  attributed  to  his  superior  mind  and  strength  of 
understanding;  while  Augustus  William  was  actuated  by 
a  depth  of  feeling,  a  passionate  and  ardent  sensitiveness. 
He  had  come  to  pay  the  queen,  his  mother,  the  customary 
morning  visit,  but  when  told  she  had  desired  that  no  one 
should  be  admitted  to  her  presence,  he  was  not  willing 
that  an  exception  should  be  made  in  his  favor.    "  He  had 

*  Dr.  Fred.  Busching,  page  1Y2. 


144  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

time  to  wait,"  he  said,  "  and  should  be  announced  and 
called  up  from  the  garden  only  when  the  queen  was  again 
at  leisure." 

After  giving  this  order  he  had  gone  down  into 
the  garden,  where  a  lover's  instinct  had  conducted  him 
to  the  conservatory,  in  which,  to  him,  the  most  beautiful 
of  all  flowers,  the  lovely  Laura  von  Pannewitz,  reposed. 
He  did  not  dream  of  finding  her  there,  supposing  she  had 
accompanied  the  other  ladies  on  their  drive;  he  had 
sought  this  building  that  he  might  pass  a  few  moments 
in  undisturbed  quiet — that  he  might  think  of  her  and  the 
unrequited  love  which  he  had  vainly  endeavored  to  tear 
from  his  heart. 

It  was  therefore  not  her  he  sought  when,  on  entering 
the  conservatory,  he  looked  searchingly  around.  He  only 
wished  to  know  that  he  was  alone,  that  no  one  observed 
him.  But  suddenly  he  started,  and  a  deep  red  suffused 
his  countenance.  He  saw  the  beautiful  sleeper  in  the 
arbor.  In  the  first  ecstasy  of  his  delight  he  was  on  the 
point  of  throwing  himself  at  her  feet,  and  awakening  her 
with  his  kisses.  He  started  forward — but  then  hesitated, 
and  stood  still,  an  expression  of  deep  melancholy  pervad- 
ing his  features. 

"  She  will  not  welcome  me,"  murmured  he,  "  she  will 
repel  me  as  she  did  my  letter  yesterday.  She  does  not 
love  me,  and  would  never  forgive  me  if  I  should  desecrate 
her  pure  lips  with  mine."  He  bowed  his  head  and  sighed. 
"  But  I  love  her,"  said  he,  after  a  long  pause,  "  and  vsdll  at 
I/east  look  at  and  adore  her,  as  the  Catholics  worship  the 
Virgin  Mary."  And  with  a  beaming  smile,  which  illu- 
mined his  whole  countenance,  the  prince  slowly  and 
noiselessly  stepped  forward. 

"  WeU,"  murmured  Fritz  Wendel  in  his  hiding-place, 
"I  have  some  curiosity  to  know  what  the  prince  has 
to  say  to  this  sleeping  beauty;  but,  nevertheless, 
I  would  give  a  year  of  my  life  ii  I  eould  slip  away 


AND  HIS  COURT.  145 

unobserved,  for  if  the  prince  discovers  me  here  I  am 
lost!" 

He  retired  to  that  part  of  the  grotto  where  the  foliage 
was  thickest,  still  however  securing  a  place  from  which 
he  could  observe  all  that  took  place  in  the  myrtle  arbor. 


CHAPTEE  III. 

PRINCE  AUGUSTUS  WILLIAM. 

The  prince  entered  the  myrtle  arbor,  and,  perceiving 
the  lovely  sleeper,  he  approached  her  with  a  joyful  counte- 
nance. 

"  Madonna,  my  Madonna,  let  me  pray  to  you,  let  me 
look  at  you,"  he  murmured.  "Listen  to  my  pleadings, 
and  let  a  ray  of  your  love  sink  into  my  heart."  Laura 
moved  in  her  sleep,  and  uttered  a  few  indistinct  words. 
The  prince  kneeled  motionless  before  her,  and  watched 
all  her  movements.  The  dreams  that  visited  her  were 
not  bright;  Laura  moaned  and  sighed  in  her  sleep;  her 
countenance  assumed  an  expression  so  sad  and  painful 
that  the  eyes  of  the  prince  filled  with  tears.  "  She  is  suf- 
fering," he  murmured ;  "  why  should  she  suffer  ?  what  is 
it  that  causes  my  beloved  to  sigh?"  Suddenly  she 
opened  her  eyes,  arose,  and  fastened  her  astonished  and 
half -dreamy  gaze  upon  the  prince,  who  with  folded  hands 
was  still  kneeling  before  her,  and  gazing  on  her  with 
tender,  pleading  eyes.  A  trembling  seized  her  whole 
being,  as  the  ocean  trembles  when  touched  by  the  first 
ray  of  the  sun.  A  sweet,  blissful  astonishment  was 
painted  on  every  feature.  "Am  I  still  dreaming?"  she 
murmured,  passing  her  hand  across  her  brow,  and  push- 
ing aside  her  long  dark  hair—"  am  I  still  dreaming?" 


146  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"Yes,  you  are  dreaming,"  murmured  Prince  Augus- 
tus, seizing  her  hands  and  pressing  them  to  his  lips,  "  you 
are  dreaming.  Madonna,  let  me  dream  with  you,  and  be 
forever  blessed.  Oh!  withdraw  not  your  hand,  be  not 
angry,  let  us  still  dream  for  one  blessed  moment."  But 
she  hastily  set  her  hands  free  and  arose  from  her  seat; 
grandly  and  proudly  she  stood  before  him,  and  her  flash- 
ing eyes  rested  with  a  severe  and  reproachful  expression 
upon  the  still  kneeling  prince. 

"  Arise,  my  prince ;  it  is  not  proper  that  the  brother  of 
the  king  should  kneel  before  me;  arise,  and  have  the 
kindness  to  inform  me  what  circumstances  procured  me 
the  rare  and  unsolicited  favor  of  being  sought  by  your 
royal  highness.  But  no,  I  divine  it;  you  owe  me  no 
explanation;  the  queen  has  asked  for  me,  and  your  high- 
ness was  so  gracious  as  to  seek  for  the  tardy  servant,  who 
is  sleeping  while  her  mistress  calls;  allow  me  to  hasten 
to  her."  Laura,  feeling  her  strength  failing,  and  sup- 
pressing with  pain  the  tears  that  sprang  from  her  heart 
to  her  eyes,  endeavored  to  pass  the  prince. 

But  he  held  her  back;  the  timidity  that  had  so  often 
made  him  appear  shy  and  embarrassed  had  vanished;  he 
felt  that  at  this  moment  he  faced  his  destiny,  and  that 
his  future  depended  upon  the  result  of  this  interview. 
"  No,"  he  said  earnestly,  "  the  queen  did  not  call  you, 
she  does  not  need  you;  remain,  therefore,  mademoiselle, 
and  grant  me  a  few  moments  of  your  time."  His  solemn 
voice  and  determined  expression  made  her  tremble,  but 
still  entranced;  her  soul  bowed  in  humility  and  fear 
before  him.  She  had  always  seen  him  humble  and  plead- 
ing, always  submissive  and  obedient;  now  his  glance 
was  commanding,  his  voice  imperious;  and  she,  who  had 
been  able  to  withstand  the  entreaties  of  a  lover,  found  no 
courage  to  resist  the  angry  and  commanding  man.  "  Re- 
main," he  repeated ;  "  be  seated,  and  allow  me  to  speak 
to  you  honestly  and  truly." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  147 

Laura  seated  herself  obediently  and  tremblingly;  the 
prince  stood  before  her,  and  looked  at  her  with  a  sad 
smile. 

"  Yesterday  you  returned  my  letter  unopened,  but 
now  you  must  hear  me,  Laura;  I  wish  it,  and  no  woman 
can  withstand  the  strong  will  of  the  man  who  loves  her." 

Laura  trembled  and  grew  pale;  she  feared  that  if  at 
this  moment  he  bade  her  forsake  all,  cast  away,  and 
trample  under  foot  her  honor,  her  reputation,  her  inno- 
cence and  pure  conscience,  she  would  obey  him  as  a  true 
and  humble  slave,  and  follow  and  serve  him  her  whole 
life. 

"  Yes,  you  shall  hear  me ;  I  will  know  my  fate — know 
if  you  really  despise  my  great  and  devoted  love,  if  you 
are  without  pity,  without  sympathy  for  my  suffering,  my 
struggles  and  despair.  I  should  think  that  true,  genuine 
love  would,  like  the  music  of  Orpheus,  have  power  to 
animate  stones  and  flowers,  and  my  love  cannot  even 
move  the  heart  of  a  noble,  feeling  girl.  What  is  the 
reason?  why  do  you  fly  from  me?  Is  it,  Laura,  because 
you  deem  me  unworthy  of  your  love?  because  your  heart 
feels  no  emotion  for  me?  are  you  cold  and  severe  because 
you  hold  me  for  a  bold  beggar,  who  longs  for  the  treas- 
ure belonging  to  another,  whom  you  despise  because  he 
begs  for  what  should  bo  the  free  gift  of  your  heart?  Or 
has  your  heart  never  jeen  touched  by  love?  If  this  is  so, 
Laura,  and  my  love  has  not  the  power  to  awaken  your 
heart,  then  do  not  speak,  but  let  me  leave  you  quietly. 
I  will  try  to  bear  my  misery  or  die;  I  shall  have  no  one 
but  myself  to  reproach,  for  God  has  denied  me  the  power 
of  winning  love.  But  if  this  is  not  the  reason  of  your 
coldness,  if  we  are  only  separated  by  the  vain  prejudices 
of  rank  and  birth,  O  Laura,  I  entreat  you,  if  this  is  all 
that  separate  us,  speak  one  single  word  of  comfort,  of  hope, 
one  single  low  word,  and  I  will  conquer  the  whole  world, 
break  down  all  prejudices  and  laws,  and  cast  them  from 


148  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

me.  I  will  be  as  great  and  strong  as  Hercules,  to  clear 
the  way,  and  make  it  smooth  for  our  love.  I  will  present 
you  to  the  world  as  my  betrothed,  and  before  God  and  my 
king  call  you  my  wife.  Speak,  Laura,  is  it  so?  Do  you 
fly  from  me  because  of  this  star  upon  my  breast — be- 
cause I  am  called  a  royal  prince?  I  implore  you,  tell  me, 
is  it  so?  if  not,  if  you  cast  me  from  you  because  you  do 
not  love  me,  say  nothing  and  I  will  go  away  for  ever." 

A  long,  painful  silence  ensued.  The  prince  watched 
the  pained,  frightened  countenance  of  the  young  girl, 
who  sat  before  him  with  bowed  head,  pale  and  motionless. 

"  It  is  decided,"  he  sighed,  after  a  long  pause ;  "  fare- 
well, I  accept  my  destiny,  you  have  spoken  my  sentence; 
may  your  heart  never  accuse  you  of  cruelty !  "  He  bowed 
low  before  her,  then  turned  and  walked  across  the  sa- 
loon. 

Laura  had  remained  motionless;  she  now  raised  her 
head ;  she  followed  him  with  a  glance  that,  had  he  seen  it, 
would  have  brought  him  back  to  her — a  look  that  spoke 
more  than  words  or  protestations. 

The  prince  had  reached  the  door  once  more;  he 
turned,  their  looks  met,  and  a  trembling  delight  took 
possession  of  her  whole  being;  forgetting  all  danger, 
she  longingly  extended  her  arms  toward  him,  and  mur- 
mured his  name. 

With  a  cry  of  delight  he  sprang  to  her  side,  and  folded 
her  with  impassioned  tenderness  in  his  arms.  Laura 
concealed  her  tear-stained  face  upon  his  breast,  and  mur- 
mured, "  God  sees  my  heart.  He  knows  how  long  I  have 
prayed  and  struggled;  may  He  be  more  merciful,  more 
compassionate  than  man!  I  shall  be  cast  off,  despised; 
let  it  be,  I  shall  think  of  this  hour,  and  be  happy." 

"ISTo  one  shall  dare  to  insult  you,"  he  said  proudly; 
"  from  this  hour  you  are  my  affianced,  and  some  day  I 
shall  present  you  to  the  world  as  my  wife." 

Smiling   sadly,   she   shook   her   head.    "Let   us   not 


AND  HIS  COURT.  149 

speak  of  the  future;  it  may  be  dark  and  sorrowful.  I 
will  not  complain,  I  will  bear  my  cross  joyfully,  and 
thank  God  for  your  love." 

He  kissed  the  tears  from  her  eyes,  and  murmured 
sweet  and  holy  promises  of  love  and  faith.  It  was  a  mo- 
ment of  blissful  joy,  but  Laura  suddenly  trembled  and 
raised  her  head  from  his  breast  to  listen.  The  beating  of 
drums  and  quickly-rolling  carriages  were  heard  without. 
"  The  king !  "  cried  the  young  girl.  "  The  king,"  mur- 
mured Prince  Augustus,  sadly,  and  he  ventured  no  longer 
to  hold  the  young  girl  in  his  arms.  They  were  both 
awakened  from  their  short,  blessed  dream,  both  were  re- 
minded of  the  world,  and  the  obstacles  that  lay  in  their 
path.  In  their  great  happiness  they  had  appeared  small, 
but  now  were  assuming  giant-like  proportions. 

"I  must  hasten  to  the  queen,"  said  Laura,  rising; 
"her  majesty  will  need  me." 

"And  I  must  go  and  meet  the  king,"  sighed  the 
prince. 

"  Go  quickly ;  let  us  hasten,  and  take  different  paths 
to  the  castle." 

He  took  her  hand  and  held  it  to  his  lips.  "  Farewell, 
my  beloved,  my  bride;  trust  me,  and  be  strong  in  love 
and  hope." 

"  Farewell,"  she  murmured,  and  endeavored  to  pass 
him. 

Once  more  he  detained  her.  "  Shall  we  meet  here 
again?  will  you  let  me  enjoy  here  another  hour  of  your 
dear  presence?  Oh,  bow  not  your  head;  do  not  blush; 
your  sweet  confession  has  made  of  this  place  a  temple  of 
love,  and  here  I  will  approach  you  with  pure  and  holy 
thoughts."  He  looked  long  into  her  beautiful,  blushing 
face. 

"  We  will  see  each  other  here  again,"  she  murmured ; 
"  every  day  I  shall  await  you  here  at  the  same  hour ; 
now  hasten,  hasten." 


150  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

Both  left  the  saloon ;  it  was  again  silent  and  deserted ; 
in  a  few  moments  Fritz  Wendel  stepped  out  from  the 
grotto  with  glowing  cheeks  and  sparkling  eyes. 

"  This  is  a  noble  secret  that  I  have  discovered — a 
secret  that  wiU  bring  me  golden  fruits.  Louise  von 
Schwerin  is  not  more  widely  separated  from  the  poor  gar« 
dener,  Fritz  Wendel,  than  Mademoiselle  Pannewitz  from 
Prince  Augustus  William.  A  gardener  can  rise  and  be- 
come a  nobleman,  but  Mademoiselle  Pannewitz  can  never 
become  a  princess,  never  be  the  wife  of  her  lover.  Louise 
von  Schwerin  shall  no  longer  be  ashamed  of  the  love  of 
Fritz  Wendel;  I  will  tell  her  what  I  have  seen,  I  will 
take  her  into  the  grotto,  and  let  her  witness  the  rendez- 
vous of  the  prince  and  his  beloved,  and  whilst  he  is  telling 
Laura  of  his  love,  I  will  be  with  my  Louise." 


CHAPTEK   IV. 

THE  KING  AND  THE  SON. 

Laura  was  not  mistaken.  It  was  the  king  whom  the 
castle  guard  were  saluting  with  the  beat  of  the  drum. 
It  was  the  king  coming  to  pay  his  first  visit  to  his  mother 
at  Monbijou.  He  came  unannounced,  and  the  perplexed, 
anxious  looks  of  the  cavaliers  showed  that  his  appearance 
had  caused  more  disturbance  and  terror  than  joy.  With 
a  slight  laugh  he  turned  to  his  grand  chamberlain,  Pöll- 
nitz. 

"  Go  tell  her  majesty  that  her  son  Frederick  awaits 
her."  And  followed  by  Kaiserling  and  the  cavaliers  of 
the  queen,  he  entered  the  garden  saloon. 

Queen  Sophia  Dorothea  received  the  king's  message 
with  a  proud,  beaming  smile.     She  was  not  then  deceived. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  151 

her  dearest  hopes  were  to  be  fulfilled ;  the  young  king  was 
an  obedient,  submissive  son;  she  was  for  him  still  the 
reigning  queen,  the  mother  entitled  to  command.  The 
son,  not  the  king,  had  come,  disrobed  of  all  show  of 
royalty,  to  wait  humbly  as  a  suppliant  for  her  appearance. 
She  felt  proud,  triumphant!  A  glorious  future  lay  be- 
fore her.  She  would  be  a  queen  at  last — a  queen  not  only 
in  name,  but  in  truth.  Her  son  was  King  of  Prussia, 
and  she  would  be  co-regent.  Her  entire  court  should  be 
witness  to  this  meeting;  they  should  see  her  triumph, 
and  spread  the  news  far  and  wide. 

He  came  simply,  without  ceremony,  as  her  son,  but 
she  would  receive  him  according  to  etiquette,  as  it  be- 
seemed a  queen.  She  wore  a  long,  black  trailing  gown, 
a  velvet  ermine-bordered  mantle,  and  caught  up  the 
black  veil  that  was  fastened  in  her  hair  with  several  bril- 
liants. All  preparations  were  at  last  finished,  and  the 
queen,  preceded  by  Pöllnitz,  arrived  in  the  garden  saloon. 

Frederick,  standing  by  the  window,  was  beating  the 
glass  impatiently  with  his  long,  thin  fingers.  He  thought 
his  mother  showed  but  little  impatience  to  see  her  son 
who  had  hurried  with  all  the  eagerness  of  childlike  love  to 
greet  her.  He  wondered  what  could  be  her  motive,  and 
had  just  surmised  it  as  the  door  opened  and  the  chamber- 
lain announced  in  a  loud  voice — "  Her  majesty,  the  wid- 
owed queen."  A  soft,  mocking  smile  played  upon  his  lips 
for  a  moment,  as  the  queen  entered  in  her  splendid  court 
dress,  but  it  disappeared  quickly,  and  hat  in  hand  he  ad- 
vanced to  meet  her. 

Sophia  Dorothea  received  him  with  a  gracious  smile, 
and  gave  him  her  hand  to  kiss. 

"  Your  majesty  is  welcome,"  said  she,  with  a  trembling 
voice,  for  it  grieved  her  proud  heart  to  give  her  son  the 
title  of  majesty.  The  king,  perceiving  something  of  this, 
said :  "  Continue  to  call  me  your  son,  mother,  for  when 
with  your  majesty  I  am  but  an  obedient,  grateful  son." 


152  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Well,  then,  welcome,  welcome  my  son ! "  cried  the 
queen,  with  an  undisguised  expression  of  rapture,  and 
throwing  her  arms  around  him,  she  kissed  his  forehead 
repeatedly.  "  Welcome  to  the  modest  house  of  a  poor, 
sorrowful  widow." 

"  My  wish,  dear  mother,  is,  that  you  shall  not  think  of 
yourself  as  a  sad  widow,  but  as  the  mother  of  a  king.  I 
do  not  desire  you  to  be  continually  reminded  of  the  great 
loss  we  have  all  sustained,  and  that  God  sent  upon  us. 
Your  majesty  is  not  only  the  widowed  queen,  you  belong 
not  to  the  past,  but  to  the  present;  and  I  beg  that  you 
will  be  called  from  this  moment,  not  the  widowed  queen, 
but  the  queen-mother.  Grand  chamberlain  Pöllnitz,  see 
that  this  is  done." 

For  a  moment  the  queen  lost  her  proud,  stately  bear- 
ing; she  was  deeply  touched.  The  king's  delicate  at- 
tentions made  her  all  the  mother,  and  for  a  moment  love 
silenced  all  her  proud,  imperious  wishes. 

"  Oh,  my  son,  you  know  how  to  dry  my  tears,  and 
to  change  the  sorrowing  widow  into  a  proud,  happy 
mother,"  said  she,  pressing  his  hand  tenderly  to  her 
heart. 

The  king  was  so  overjoyed  at  his  mother's  unfeigned 
tenderness  that  he  was  prepared  to  agree  to  all  her  de- 
mands, and  humor  her  in  every  thing. 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  I,  not  you,  ought  to  render  thanks 
that  you  are  so  willing  to  enter  into  my  views.  I  will  put 
your  magnanimity  still  further  to  the  test,  and  state  a 
few  more  of  my  wishes." 

"  Let  us  hear  them,  my  son,"  said  the  queen,  "  but  first 
let  me  ask  a  favor." 

"  Let  us  be  seated." 

The  king  led  her  to  an  arm-chair  near  a  window,  from 
which  there  was  a  beautiful  view  of  the  garden.  The 
queen  seated  herself,  and  the  young  king  remained  stand- 
ing in  front  of  her,  still  holding  his  hat.    Sophia  Doro- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  153 

thea  saw  this,  and  was  enraptured  at  this  new  triumph. 
Turning  to  the  king,  she  said : 

"  Let  us  now  hear  your  wishes,  and  I  promise  jojrfully 
to  fulfil  them." 

"  I  wish,"  said  he,  "  your  majesty  to  surround  herself 
with  a  larger  and  more  brilliant  court.  Two  maids  of 
honor  are  not  sufficient  for  the  queen-mother,  for  if  by 
chance  one  were  sick,  and  the  other  fretful,  there  would 
be  no  one  to  divert  and  amuse  your  majesty.  I  therefore 
propose  that  you  have  six  instead  of  two  maids  of  honor." 

The  queen  looked  at  him  in  tender  astonishment. 

"  My  son,"  said  she,  "  you  are  a  veritable  magician. 
You  divine  all  my  wishes.  Thanks — many,  many  thanks. 
But  your  majesty  is  not  seated,"  said  she,  as  if  just  per- 
ceiving this. 

"  Madame,"  said  he,  laughing,  "  I  awaited  your  per- 
mission." He  seated  himself,  and  said,  "  You  agree  to 
my  proposal,  mother  ? " 

"I  agree  to  it,  and  beg  your  majesty  to  point  out  to 
me  the  ladies  you  have  decided  upon  as  my  six  maids  of 
honor.  Your  majesty  has  free  choice,  and  all  I  wish  is, 
to  be  told  when  you  have  decided.  I  only  fear,"  said  the 
queen,  "that  with  my  enlarged  court  there  will  not  be 
room  for  the  ladies  to  have  their  separate  apartments 
at  Monbijou." 

"  Your  majesty  is  no  longer  to  live  in  this  house," 
said  the  king ;  "  it  is  large  enough  for  a  passing  summer 
visit,  but  it  does  not  answer  for  the  residence  of  the 
queen-mother.  I  spoke  some  time  since  to  Knobelsdorf, 
and  already  a  magnificent  palace  is  being  built  for  you." 

The  queen  blushed  with  pleasure;  all  her  wishes 
seemed  to  be  fulfilled  to-day.  She  must  know  whether 
Sophia  Dorothea  was  to  be  queen-regent  as  well  as  queen- 
mother.  She  thanked  her  son  tenderly  for  this  new  proof 
of  his  love  and  kindness. 

"  And  still,"  said  she,  sighing,  "  perhaps  I  ought  not  to 


154  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

accept  of  your  kindness.  My  husband's  death  should  re- 
mind me  of  the  transitory  nature  of  life,  and  should  lead 
me  to  pass  the  remainder  of  my  days  in  seclusion,  devot- 
ing my  time  to  God." 

The  king  looked  so  anxious,  so  shocked,  that  the  queen 
repented  having  given  the  conversation  this  gloomy  turn. 

"  It  is  cruel,  mother,"  said  he,  "  not  to  let  me  enjoy 
the  pleasure  of  being  with  you  without  a  drop  of  worm- 
wood. But  I  see  by  your  rosy  cheeks  and  bright  smile 
that  you  only  wished  to  frighten  me.  Let  the  architects 
and  masons  continue  their  work :  God  will  be  merciful  to 
me,  and  grant  a  long  life  to  the  noblest  and  best-beloved 
of  mothers !  " 

He  kissed  her  hand  and  rose;  Sophia  Dorothea  was 
terrified.  The  king  was  leaving,  and  she  still  did  not 
know  how  far  her  influence  was  to  reach  and  what  were 
to  be  its  limits. 

"  You  will  already  leave  me,  my  son  ? "  said  she,  lov- 
ingly. 

"  I  must,  your  majesty.  For  from  here  I  can  hear  the 
Government  machinery  creaking  and  groaning;  I  must 
hasten  to  supply  it  with  oil,  and  set  it  in  motion  again. 
Ah!  madame,  it  is  no  easy  task  to  be  a  king.  To  do  jus- 
tice to  all  his  obligations,  a  king  must  rise  early  and  re- 
tire late ;  and  I  think  truly  it  is  much  more  pleasant  to  be 
reigned  over  than  to  reign." 

The  queen  could  scarcely  suppress  her  delight;  the 
king's  words  were  balm  to  her  ambitious  heart. 

"  I  can  well  see  that  it  is  as  you  say,"  said  she,  "  but  I 
think  that  the  king  has  a  right  to  amuse  himself;  I  think 
that  a  mother  has  some  claims  on  her  son,  even  if  he  is  a 
king.  You  must  not  leave  now,  my  son.  You  must 
grant  me  the  pleasure  of  showing  you  my  new  conserva- 
tory.    Give  me  your  arm,  and  comply  with  my  request." 

"  Madame,  you  now  see  what  power  you  have  over  me," 
said  he,  as  she  laughingly  took  his  arm.     "  I  forget  that 


AND  HIS  COURT.  155 

I  am  the  servant  of  my  country,  because  I  prefer  being 
the  servant  of  my  queen." 

The  large  glass  door  was  opened,  and,  leaning  on  the 
king's  arm,  the  queen  entered  the  garden. 

At  some  distance  the  princesses  with  their  brother 
and  the  rest  of  the  court  followed.  They  were  all  silent, 
eagerly  listening  to  the  conversation  of  the  royal  couple. 
But  the  queen  did  not  now  care  to  be  heard  by  her  court. 
They  had  seen  her  triumph,  but  they  should  not  be  witness 
to  a  possible  defeat.  She  now  spoke  in  a  low  tone,  and 
hurried  her  steps,  to  put  a  distance  between  herself  and 
the  courtiers.  She  spoke  with  the  king  about  the  garden, 
and  then  asked  if  he  thought  of  passing  the  summer  at 
Rheinsberg. 

"  Alas,"  said  he,  "  I  will  not  have  the  time.  For  a 
king  is  but  the  first  officer  of  his  State,  and  as  I  receive  my 
salary  I  must  honestly  fulfil  the  duties  I  have  under- 
taken." 

"  But  I  think  your  majesty  does  too  much,"  said  the 
queen.  "  You  should  allow  yourself  more  relaxation, 
and  not  let  State  matters  rest  entirely  upon  your  own 
shoulders.  To  one  who  is  accustomed  to  associate  with 
poets,  artists,  and  the  sciences,  it  must  be  very  hard  sud- 
denly to  bury  himself  in  deeds,  documents,  and  all 
sorts  of  dusty  papers;  you  should  leave  this  occasion- 
ally to  others,  and  not  work  the  State  machinery  your- 
self." 

"  Madame,"  said  the  king,  "  this  machine  has  secrets 
and  peculiarities  that  its  architect  can  intrust  to  no 
workman,  therefore  he  must  lead  and  govern  it  himself; 
and  if  at  times  the  wheels  creak  and  it  is  not  in  perfect 
order,  he  has  only  himself  to  thank." 

"  But  you  have  your  ministers  ?  " 

"  They  are  my  clerks — nothing  more !  " 

"  Ah,  I  see,  you  intend  to  be  a  rock  and  take  counsel 
from  no  one,"  said  the  queen,  impatiently. 


156  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

"Yes,  your  majesty,  from  you  always;  and  with  your 
gracious  permission  I  will  now  consult  you." 

"  Speak,  my  son,  speak,"  said  the  queen,  in  breathless 
expectation. 

"I  wish  your  advice  upon  theatrical  matters.  Where 
must  the  new  opera-house  be  built  ? " 

The  queen's  face  darkened. 

"  I  am  not  a  suitable  adviser  for  amusements,"  said 
she,  pointing  to  her  black  gown.  "  My  mourning  gar- 
ments do  not  fit  me  for  such  employment,  and  you  well 
know  I  do  not  care  for  the  theatre;  for  how  many  cold, 
dull  evenings  have  I  passed  there  with  your  father !  " 

"  Ah,  madame,"  said  the  king,  "  I  was  not  talking  of 
a  German  theatre,  which  I  dislike  quite  as  much  as  your- 
self. No,  we  will  have  a  French  theatre  and  an  Italian 
opera.  The  French  alone  can  act  and  only  the  Italians 
can  sing,  but  we  Germans  can  play;  I  have  therefore 
charged  Graun  to  compose  a  new  opera  for  the  inaugura- 
tion of  the  new  opera-house." 

"  And  undoubtedly  this  inauguration  will  take  place 
on  a  festive  occasion,"  said  the  queen,  going  directly  to 
the  point.  "  Perhaps  at  the  wedding  of  one  of  your 
sisters  ? " 

"  Ah,"  said  he,  "  your  majesty  is  thinking  of  a  wed- 
ding?" 

"  Not  I,  but  others.  Yesterday  I  received  from  Lon- 
don a  letter  from  my  royal  brother.  And  a  few  moments 
ago  Count  Manteuffel  brought  me  letters  of  condolence 
from  the  Empress  of  Austria.  It  seems  the  count  was, 
besides  this,  commissioned  to  sound  me  as  to  a  possible 
marriage  with  Prince  Augustus." 

"  It  is  very  unnecessary  for  the  count  to  burden  you 
with  matters  which  are  happily  beyond  the  reach  of  your 
motherly  duties.  For,  alas!  the  marrying  of  princes  is 
a  political  affair,  and  is  not  determined  by  the  mother's 
heart,  but  by  the  necessities  of  the  kingdom." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  I57 

The  queen  bit  her  lip  until  it  bled.  "  Your  majesty  is, 
undoubtedly,  thinking  of  performing  this  political  ob- 
ligation, and  have  chosen  a  bride  for  the  prince,"  said  she, 
sharply. 

"  Forgive  me,"  said  the  king  laughing,  "  I  am  not  now 
thinking  of  marrying,  but  of  unmarrying." 

Sophia  Dorothea  looked  anxiously  at  the  king. 
"  How,  my  son,  are  you  thinking  of  a  divorce  ? "  said  she, 
tremblingly. 

"  Not  of  one,  but  of  many,  mother.  Does  your  maj- 
esty know  that  I  have  abolished  the  torture  ? " 

"  No,"  said  the  queen  impatiently,  "  I  did  not — politics 
do  not  concern  me." 

"  That  is  in  conformity  with  the  true  womanly  char- 
acter of  my  mother,"  said  he.  "  There  is  nothing  so  in- 
sipid and  tiresome  as  a  woman  who  gives  up  the  graces 
and  muses  to  excite  herself  with  politics." 

"  And  still  your  majesty  was  just  initiating  me  into 
politics." 

"  Ah,  yes,  I  told  you  I  had  abolished  the  torture." 

"  And  I  ask,  how  does  that  concern  me  ?  " 

"You  ask  why  I  am  thinking  of  divorces?  Well,  I 
told  you  that  I  had  abolished  the  torture,  and  in  doing 
this  it  was  but  natural  that  I  busied  myself  about  mar- 
riage. For  your  majesty  will  grant  me  that  there  is  no 
severer  rack,  no  more  frightful  torture,  than  an  unhappy 
marriage." 

"  It  seems  as  if  with  the  torture  you  will  also  abolish 
marriage,"  said  the  queen,  terrified. 

The  king  laughed.  "  Ah,  no,  madame,  I  am  not  pope, 
and  have  not  received  the  right  from  God  to  decide  over 
men's  consciences,  though  perhaps  the  majority  would 
be  inclined  to  call  me  holy,  and  to  honor  me  with  godlike 
worship,  if  I  would  really  abolish  the  torture  of  matri- 
mony. But  I  am  not  ambitious,  and  renounce  all  claim 
to  adoration.    But  while  engaged  in  abolishing  the  tor- 


158  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

ture,  I  could  but  see  that  when  the  marriage  chains  had 
ceased  to  be  garlands  of  roses,  and  were  transformed  into 
heavy  links  of  iron,  there  should  be  some  means  found  to 
break  them.  I  have  therefore  commanded  that  if  two 
married  people  cannot  live  harmoniously,  a  divorce  shall 
not  be  denied  them.  I  hope  that  my  royal  mother  agrees 
with  me." 

"  Ah,  there  will  soon  be  many  divorce  cases,"  said  the 
queen,  with  a  contemptuous  smile.  "  All  who  are  not 
thoroughly  happy  will  hasten  to  the  king  for  a  divorce. 
Who  knows  but  that  the  king  himself  will  set  the  people  a 
good  example  ? " 

"With  God's  help,  madame,"  said  the  king,  gravely. 
"  My  noble  mother  will  always  wish  me  to  set  my 
people  a  good  example.  A  king  is  but  the  servant  of  a 
nation." 

"  That  is,  indeed,  an  humble  idea  of  a  king,  a  king 
by  the  grace  of  God." 

"  Madame,  I  do  not  crave  to  be  called  a  king  by  the 
grace  of  God.  I  prefer  being  king  by  my  own  right  and 
strength.  But  forgive  me,  mother.  You  see  how  these 
politics  mix  themselves  up  with  every  thing.  Let  them 
rest.  You  were  speaking,  I  think,  of  the  marriage  of  one 
of  the  princes  ?  " 

"  We  were  speaking  of  the  marriage  of  Prince  Augus- 
tus William,"  said  the  queen,  who,  with  the  obstinacy  of 
a  true  woman,  always  returned  to  the  point  from  which 
she  had  started,  and  who,  in  the  desire  of  gaining  her 
point,  had  lost  all  consideration  and  presence  of  mind. 
"  I  was  telling  you  that  I  received  yesterday  a  letter  from 
my  royal  brother,  and  that  King  George  the  Second  is 
anxious  to  form  an  alliance  between  our  children." 

"  Another  marriage  with  England !  "  said  the  king, 
dejectedly.  ^  "  You  know  there  is  no  good  luck  in  our 
English  marriages.  The  courier  who  brings  the  English 
consent  is  always  too  late." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  159 

The  queen  was  enraged.  "  You  mean  that  you  have 
decided  upon  a  bride  for  my  son,  that  again  my  darling 
wish  of  intermarrying  my  children  with  the  royal  house 
of  England  is  not  to  be  realized?  Ah,  your  father's 
example  must  have  been  very  satisfactory  to  you,  as  you 
follow  so  quickly  in  his  footsteps." 

"  I  truly  find,  madame,  that  the  king  acted  wisely  in 
not  regarding  in  the  marriage  of  the  prince  royal  the 
wishes  of  his  heart  and  his  family,  but  political  interests, 
which  he  was  bo\ind  to  consider.  I  will  certainly  follow 
his  example,  and  take  counsel  over  the  marriage  of  the 
prince  royal,  not  with  my  own  heart,  not  even  with  the 
wishes  of  my  royal  mother,  but  with  the  interests  of 
Prussia." 

"  But  Augustus  William  is  not  prince  royal,"  cried 
the  queen,  with  trembling  lips.  "  The  prince  is  only  your 
brother,  and  you  may  have  many  sons  who  will  dispute 
with  him  the  succession  to  the  throne." 

An  expression  of  deep  sorrow  lay  like  a  dark  veil  upon 
the  handsome  face  of  the  king.  "  I  will  have  no  chil- 
dren," said  he,  "  and  Prince  Augustus  William  will  be 
my  successor," 

The  queen  had  not  the  heart  to  reply.  She  looked  at 
her  son  in  amazement.  Their  eyes  met,  and  the  sad 
though  sweet  expression  of  the  usually  clear,  sparkling 
eyes  of  her  son  touched  her,  and  awoke  the  mother's  heart. 
With  a  hasty  movement  she  took  his  hands,  pressed  them 
to  her  heart,  and  said:  "Ah,  my  son,  how  poor  is  this 
life!  You  are  young,  handsome,  and  highly  gifted,  you 
are  a  king,  and  still  you  are  not  happy." 

The  king's  face  was  brighter,  his  eyes  sparkled  as  be- 
fore. 

"Life,"  said  he,  smiling,  "is  not  a  pleasure,  but  a 
duty,  and  if  we  honestly  perform  this  duty  we  will  be 
happy  in  the  end.  It  is  now  time  to  return  to  my  prison 
and  be  king  once  more." 


160  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

He  embraced  his  mother  tenderly,  laughed  and  jested 
for  a  few  moments  with  his  sisters  Ulrica  and  Amelia, 
then  left,  followed  by  his  cavaliers.  Sophia  Dorothea 
remained  in  the  garden,  and  Ulrica,  her  favorite  daugh- 
ter, followed  her. 

"  Your  majesty  looks  sad  and  grave,"  said  she,  "  and 
you  have  every  reason  to  look  happy.  The  king  was  re- 
markably kind  and  amiable.  Only  think  of  it,  you  will 
have  six  maids  of  honor,  and  a  beautiful  palace  is  being 
built  for  you !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,"  said  the  queen,  "  I  will  be  surrounded  with 
outward  glory." 

"  And  how  anxious  the  king  seemed  for  you  to  forget 
the  past ! "  said  Princess  Amelia,  who,  with  Prince 
Augustus  William,  had  joined  her  mother  and  sister, 
"  you  are  not  the  widowed  queen  but  the  queen-mother." 

"Yes,"  murmured  Sophia  Dorothea  to  herself,  "I 
am  queen-mother,  but  I  will  never  be  queen-regent.  Ah, 
my  children,"  cried  she,  passionately,  "  the  king,  your 
brother,  was  right.  Princes  are  not  bom  to  be  happy. 
He  is  not  so,  and  you  will  never  be !  " 


CHAPTER   V. 

THE  queen's  tailor. 

A  DREARY  silence  had  reigned  for  some  time  in  the 
usually  gay  and  happy  family  circle  of  the  worthy  court 
tailor.  ISTo  one  dared  to  speak  or  laugh  aloud.  M. 
Pricker,  the  crown  and  head  of  the  house,  was  sad  and 
anxious,  and  the  storm-cloud  upon  his  brow  threw  a  dark 
reflection  upon  the  faces  of  his  wife  and  two  children,  the 
beautiful  Anna,  and  the  active,  merry  Wilhelm.    Even  the 


I 


AND  HIS  COURT.  Ißl 

assistants  in  the  work-room  were  affected  by  the  general 
gloom;  the  gay  songs  of  the  apprentices  were  silenced, 
and  the  pretty  house-maids  looked  discontented  and 
dull. 

A  tempest  lowered  over  the  house,  and  all  appeared  to 
tremble  at  its  approach.  When  Wilhelm,  the  son  and 
heir  of  the  house,  returned  from  his  work,  he  hastened 
to  his  mother's  room,  and  casting  a  curious  glance  upon 
the  old  woman,  who  was  seated  on  a  sofa,  grim-looking, 
and  supporting  her  head  upon  her  hand,  he  said,  mysteri- 
ously— 

"Not  yet!" 

Mother  Pricker  shook  her  head,  sighed  deeply,  and  re- 
plied : 

"Not  yet!" 

The  beautiful  Anna  was  generally  in  her  elegant 
room,  painting  or  singing,  and  did  not  allow  herself  to  be 
disturbed;  but  now  when  the  bell  rang,  or  a  strange  step 
was  heard,  she  hastened  to  her  mother,  and  said : 

"Well,  has  it  come?" 

Again  Mother  Pricker  sighed,  shook  her  head,  and 
answered — 

"Not  yet!" 

M.  Pricker  asked  nothing,  demanded  nothing;  silent 
and  proud  he  sat  in  the  midst  of  his  family  circle;  sto- 
ically listened  to  the  ringing  of  the  bell,  and  saw  strangers 
enter  his  counting-room,  too  proud  to  show  any  excite- 
ment. He  wrapped  himself  in  an  Olympian  silence,  and 
barricaded  himself  from  the  curious  questions  of  his  chil- 
dren by  the  stern  reserve  of  parental  authority. 

"  I  see  that  he  suffers,"  said  his  wife  to  her  daughter 
Anna;  "I  see  that  he  looks  paler  every  day,  and  eats 
less  and  less;  if  this  painful  anxiety  endures  much 
longer,  the  poor  man  will  become  dangerously  ill,  and 
the  king  will  be  answerable  for  the  death  of  one  of  his 
noblest  and  best  subjects." 


162  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  But  "why  does  our  father  attach  such  importance  to 
this  small  affair  ? "  said  Anna,  with  a  lofty  shrug  of  her 
shoulders. 

Mother  Pricker  looked  at  her  with  astonishment. 

"  You  call  this  a  small  affair,  which  concerns  not  only 
the  honor  of  your  father,  but  that  of  your  whole  family; 
which  affects  the  position  and  calling  enjoyed  by  the 
Pricker  family  for  a  hundred  years?  It  is  a  question 
whether  your  father  shall  be  unjustly  deprived  of  his 
honorable  place,  or  have  justice  done  him,  and  his  great 
services  acknowledged ! " 

Anna  gave  a  hearty  laugh. 

"Dear  mother,  you  look  at  this  thing  too  tragically; 
you  are  making  a  camel  of  a  gnat.  The  great  and  ex- 
alted things  of  which  you  speak  have  nothing  to  do  with 
the  matter ;  it  is  a  simple  question  of  title.  The  great 
point  is,  will  our  father  receive  the  title  of  *  court  tailor  * 
to  the  reigning  queen,  or  be  only  the  tailor  of  the  queen- 
dowager.  It  seems  to  me  the  difference  is  very  small, 
and  I  cannot  imagine  why  so  much  importance  is  at- 
tached to  it." 

"  You  do  not  understand,"  sighed  Mother  Pricker ; 
"you  do  not  love  your  family;  you  care  nothing  for  the 
honor  of  your  house !  " 

"  Pshaw !  to  be  the  daughter  of  a  tailor  is  a  very  poor 
and  doubtful  honor,"  said  Anna,  drearily,  "even  if  he 
is  the  tailor  of  one  or  even  two  queens.  Our  father  is 
rich  enough  to  live  without  this  contemptible  business; 
yes,  to  live  in  style.  He  has  given  his  children  such  an 
education  as  nobles  only  receive;  I  have  had  my  gover- 
ness and  my  music-teacher;  my  brother  his  tutor;  my 
father  has  not  allowed  him  to  walk  through  the  streets, 
fearing  that  he  might  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  recruit- 
ing-officers. We  have  each  our  private  rooms,  beautifully 
furnished,  and  are  the  envy  of  all  our  friends.  Why,  not- 
withstanding all  this,  will  he  condenm  us  to  be  and  to 


AND  HIS  COURT.  163 

continue  to  be  the  children  of  a  tailor?  Why  does  he 
not  tear  down  the  sign  from  the  door;  this  sign,  which 
will  be  ever  a  humiliation,  even  though  *  court  tailor ' 
should  be  written  upon  it!  This  title  will  never  enable 
us  to  appear  at  court,  and  the  noble  cavaliers  will  never 
think  of  marrying  the  daughter  of  a  tailor,  though  many 
would  seek  to  do  so  if  our  father  would  give  up  his  needle- 
work, buy  a  country  seat,  and  live,  as  rich  and  distin- 
guished men  do,  upon  his  estate." 

"  Child,  child,  what  are  you  saying  ? "  cried  Mother 
Pricker,  clasping  her  hands  with  anguish.  "  Thy  father 
give  up  his  stand,  his  honorable  stand,  which,  for  more 
than  a  hundred  years,  has  been  inherited  by  the  family  1 
Thy  father  demean  himself  to  buy  with  his  honorably- 
earned  gold  a  son-in-law  from  amongst  the  poor  nobles, 
who  will  be  ever  thinking  of  the  honor  done  us  in  accept- 
ing thee  and  thy  sixty  thousand  dollars !  Thy  father  buy  a 
country-seat,  and  spend  in  idleness  that  fortune  which  his 
forefathers  and  himself  have  been  collecting  for  hundreds 
of  years!  That  can  never  be,  and  never  will  your  father 
consent  to  your  marriage  with  any  other  man  than  an 
honest  burgher;  and  he  will  never  allow  Wilhelm  to  have 
any  other  calling  than  that  of  his  father,  his  grandfather, 
and  his  great-grandfather,  a  court  tailor." 

The  beautiful  Anna  stamped  involuntarily  upon  the 
floor,  and  a  flush  of  scorn  spread  itself  over  her  soft  cheek. 
"  I  will  not  wed  a  burgher,"  said  she,  tossing  her  head 
proudly  back,  "  and  my  brother  Wilhelm  will  never  carry 
on  the  business  of  his  father." 

"  Then  your  father  will  disinherit  you — cast  you  out 
amongst  strangers  to  beg  your  bread,"  said  the  old  wom- 
an, wringing  her  hands. 

"  God  be  thanked,"  said  Anna  proudly,  "  there  is  no 
necessity  for  begging  our  bread;  we  have  learned  enough 
to  carry  us  honorably  through  the  world,  and  when  all 
else  fails,  I  have  a  capital  in  my  voice  which  assures  me  a 


164  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

glittering  future.  The  king  will  found  an  opera-house, 
and  splendid  singers  are  so  rare  that  Prussia  will  thank 
God  if  I  allow  myself  to  be  prevailed  upon  to  take  the 
place  of  prima  donna." 

"  Oh !  unhappy,  wretched  child ! "  sobbed  Mother 
Pricker,  "you  will  dishonor  your  family,  you  will  make 
us  miserable,  and  cover  us  with  shame;  you  will  become 
an  actress,  and  we  must  live  to  see  our  respectable,  yes, 
celebrated  name  upon  a  play-bill,  and  pasted  upon  every 
comer." 

"You  will  have  the  honor  of  hearing  all  the  world 
speak  of  your  daughter,  of  seeing  sweet  flowers  and 
wreaths  thrown  before  her  whenever  she  appears,  and  of 
seeing  her  praises  in  every  number  of  every  journal  in 
Berlin.  I  shall  be  exalted  to  the  skies,  and  the  parents 
called  blessed  who  have  given  me  life." 

"  These  are  the  new  ideas,"  gasped  out  her  mother — 
"  the  new  ideas  which  are  now  the  mode,  and  which  our 
new  king  favors.  Alas!  wailing  and  sorrow  will  come 
over  our  whole  city;  honor  and  principle  will  disappear, 
and  destruction  like  that  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  will 
fall  upon  Berlin!  These  are  the  alluring  temptations 
with  which  Baron  Pöllnitz  fills  your  ear  and  crushes  in 
your  heart  the  worthy  and  seemly  principles  of  your  fam- 
ily. That," — suddenly  she  stopped  and  listened;  it 
seemed  to  her  the  bell  rung;  truly  there  was  a  step  upon 
the  stairs,  and  some  one  asked  for  M.  and  Madame 
Pricker. 

"  Pöllnitz,"  whispered  Anna,  and  a  glowing  blush 
overspread  her  face,  throat,  and  neck. 

"  The  Baron  Pöllnitz,  the  master  of  ceremonies,"  said 
Madame  Pricker,  with  a  mixture  of  joy  and  alarm. 

The  door  flew  open,  and  with  a  gay,  frolicsome  greet- 
ing, Pöllnitz  danced  into  the  room;  Anna  had  turned  to 
the  window,  and  made  no  reply  to  his  greeting.  Madame 
Pricker  stepped  toward  him,  and  greeted  him  with  the 


AND  HIS  COURT.  165 

most  profound  reverence,  calling  him  master  of  cere- 
monies and  master  of  the  bed-chamber. 

"  Not  so,"  said  PöUnitz ;  "  why  so  much  reverence  and 
so  many  titles?  I  am  indeed  master  of  ceremonies,  but 
without  the  title.  His  majesty,  the  young  king,  has  no 
special  fondness  for  renewing  the  titles  lent  to  us  by  his 
blessed  father,  and  every  prayer  and  every  representation 
to  that  effect  has  been  in  vain ;  he  considers  titles  ridicu- 
lous and  superfluous." 

Madame  Pricker  turned  pale,  and  murmured  some  in- 
comprehensible words.  Anna,  however,  who  had  up  to 
this  time  been  turned  toward  the  window,  suddenly 
looked  at  the  two  speakers,  and  fixed  her  great  eyes  ques- 
tioningly  upon  the  baron. 

"  Ah,  at  last  I  have  the  honor  to  see  you,  fair,  beauti- 
ful Anna !  "  said  Pöllnitz ;  "  I  knew  well  some  magic  was 
necessary  to  fix  those  splendid  eyes  on  me.  Allow  me 
to  kiss  your  hand,  most  honored  lady,  and  forgive  me  if 
I  have  disturbed  you."  He  flew  with  an  elegant  pirou- 
ette to  Anna,  and  took  her  hand,  which  she  did  not  extend 
to  him,  and,  indeed,  struggled  to  withhold ;  he  then  turned 
again  to  Madame  Pricker,  and  bowing  to  her,  said,  with  a 
solemn  pathos:  "I  am  not  here  to-day  simply  as  the 
friend  of  the  house,  but  as  the  ambassador  of  the  king; 
and  I  beseech  the  honored  Madame  Pricker  to  announce 
to  her  husband  that  I  wish  to  speak  to  him,  and  to  deliver 
a  message  from  the  queen." 

Madame  Pricker  uttered  a  cry  of  joy,  and  forgetting 
ail  other  considerations,  hastened  to  the  counting-room 
of  her  husband,  to  make  known  to  him  the  important  in- 
formation. 

Baron  Pöllnitz  watched  her  till  the  door  closed,  then 
turned  to  Anna,  who  still  leaned  immovable  in  the  win- 
dow. "  Anna,  dearest  Anna,"  whispered  he  tenderly,  "  at 
last  we  are  alone !  How  I  have  pined  for  you,  how  happy 
I  am  to  see  you  once  again ! " 

MuHLBACn  8  Vol.  1 


166  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

He  sought  to  press  her  fondly  to  his  heart,  but  the 
maiden  waved  him  proudly  and  coldly  back.  "  Have  you 
forgotten  our  agreement  ? "  said  she,  earnestly. 

"  No,  I  have  held  your  cruelty  in  good  remembrance ; 
only,  when  I  have  fulfilled  all  your  commands,  will  you 
deign  to  listen  to  my  glowing  wishes;  when  I  have  in- 
duced your  father  to  employ  for  you  another  singing- 
master,  and  arranged  for  your  glorious  and  heavenly 
voice  to  be  heard  by  the  king  and  the  assembled  court  ? " 

"  Yes,"  cried  Anna,  with  glowing  eyes  and  burning 
cheeks,  "  that  is  my  aim,  my  ambition.  Yes,  I  will  be  a 
singer;  all  Europe  shall  resound  with  my  fame;  all  men 
shall  lie  at  my  feet;  and  princes  and  queens  shall  seek 
to  draw  me  into  their  circles." 

"  And  I  will  be  the  happiest  of  the  happy,  when  the 
lovely  nightingale  has  reached  the  goal.  From  my  hand 
shall  she  first  wing  her  flight  to  fame.  But,  when  I  have 
fulfilled  my  word,  when  you  have  sung  in  the  royal  palace 
before  the  queen  and  the  court,  then  will  you  fulfil  your 
promise  ?     Then  PöUnitz  will  be  the  happiest  of  mortals." 

"  I  will  fulfil  my  word,"  she  said,  as  proudly  and  im- 
periously as  if  she  were  already  the  celebrated  and  grace- 
dispensing  prima  donna.  "  On  the  day  in  which  I  sing 
for  the  first  time  before  the  king — the  day  in  which  the 
tailor's  daughter  has  purified  herself  from  the  dishonor 
of  her  humble  birth,  and  becomes  a  free,  self-sustaining, 
distinguished  artist — on  that  day  we  will  have  no  reason 
to  be  ashamed  of  our  love,  and  we  can  both,  without  hu- 
miliation, present  our  hearts  to  each  other.  Baron  PöU- 
nitz can  take  for  his  wife,  without  blushing,  the  woman 
ennobled  by  art,  and  Prima  Donna  Anna  Pricker  need 
not  be  humbled  by  the  thought  that  Baron  Pöllnitz  has 
forgotten  his  rank  in  his  choice  of  a  wife." 

Baron  Pöllnitz,  courtier  as  he  was,  had  not  his  fea- 
tures so  completely  under  control  as  to  conceal  wholly  the 
ehock  conveyed  by  the  words  of  his  beautiful  sweetheart. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  167 

He  stared  for  a  moment,  speechless,  into  that  lovely  face, 
glowing  with  enthusiasm,  ambition,  and  love.  A  mock- 
ing, demoniac  smile  appeared  one  moment  on  his  lips, 
then  faded  quickly,  and  Pöllnitz  was  again  the  tender, 
passionate  lover  of  Anna  Pricker.  "Yes,  my  dearly-be- 
loved Anna,"  whispered  he,  clasping  her  in  his  arms, 
"  on  that  blessed  and  happy  day  you  will  be  my  wife,  and 
the  laurels  entwined  in  your  hair  will  be  changed  into  a 
myrtle-wreath."  He  embraced  her  passionately,  and  she 
resisted  no  longer,  but  listened  ever  to  his  words,  which, 
like  sweet  opium,  poisoned  both  the  ear  and  heart  of  the 
young  girl.  But  Pöllnitz  released  her  suddenly,  and 
stepped  back,  colder  and  more  self-possessed  than  Anna. 
He  had  heard  a  light,  approaching  step.  "  Some  one 
comes ;  be  composed,  dear  one ;  your  face  betrays  too  much 
of  your  inward  emotion."  He  danced  to  the  open  piano 
and  played  a  merry  strain,  while  Anna  hid  her  blushes  in 
the  branches  of  a  geranium  placed  in  the  window,  and 
tried  to  cool  her  glowing  cheeks  on  the  fresh  green 
leaves. 

Madame  Pricker  opened  the  door,  and  bade  the  mas- 
ter of  ceremonies  enter  the  adjoining  room,  where  M. 
Pricker  awaited  him. 


CHAPTEE   VI. 

THE  ILLUSTRIOUS  ANCESTORS  OF  A  TAILOR. 

PÖLLNITZ  offered  his  arm  to  the  lovely  Anna,  and  fol- 
lowed Madame  Pricker,  laughing  and  jesting,  into  the 
next  room.  This  was  a  long  hall,  which  had  an  appear- 
ance of  gloom  and  solemnity  in  its  arrangements  and 
decorations.  The  high  walls,  hung  with  dark  tapestry, 
were  poorly  lighted  by   two  windows.    Several  divans. 


168  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

covered  with  a  heavy  silken  material,  the  same  color 
as  the  tapestry,  were  placed  against  the  sides  of  the  room, 
and  over  them  hung  a  few  oil  paintings  in  black  frames, 
each  representing  the  figure  of  a  man  with  a  most  solemn 
expression  and  bearing.  The  remarkable  resemblance 
which  these  pictures  bore  to  each  other  convinced  you 
that  they  must  be  the  portraits  of  one  family.  In  each 
appeared  the  same  countenance,  the  same  short,  clumsy 
figure,  and  only  the  costumes  served  to  point  out  by  their 
various  styles  the  different  periods  at  which  they  had  been 
painted.  A  figure,  closely  resembling  the  pictures,  stood 
in  the  centre  of  the  hall;  it  had  the  same  countenance, 
the  same  short,  clumsy  figure,  and  even  the  same  dress  as 
that  represented  in  one  of  the  pictures.  You  might  have 
supposed  that  some  galvanic  experiment  had  given  life 
and  motion  to  the  painted  form,  and  that  as  soon  as  this 
power  was  exhausted  it  would  become  lifeless,  and  return 
to  its  place  among  the  other  pictures.  But  this  figure 
was  certainly  living,  for  it  greeted  the  grand  chamberlain, 
without,  however,  leaving  the  round  table  which  stood 
in  the  centre  of  the  room. 

"  I  welcome  you  to  the  house  of  my  fathers,"  it  said, 
with  great  dignity.  Pöllnitz  threw  a  laughing,  jesting 
glance  toward  Anna,  who  had  left  his  side  on  entering  the 
room,  and  had  withdrawn  to  one  of  the  windows. 

"  Why  are  you  so  earnest  and  solemn  to-day,  my  dear 
Pricker  ? "  said  he,  turning  to  the  old  gentleman. 

"  Are  you  not  here  as  the  ambassador  of  the  royal 
court  ? "  he  replied.  "  I  wished  to  receive  you  with  all 
honor,  and  therefore  desired  you  to  come  into  this  hall, 
that  I  might  hear  the  royal  message  in  the  midst  of  my 
ancestors.  Tell  me  now  how  can  I  serve  the  house  of  my 
sovereign." 

"  You  can  serve  it,  my  dear  Pricker,"  said  Pöllnitz, 
smiling,  as  he  displayed  a  large  sealed  paper,  "by  alter- 
ing the  sign  upon  your  door.    In  the  place  of  '  court 


AND  ms  COURT.  169 

tailor  of  the  queen  and  princess  royal,'  it  should  read — 
*  court  tailor  of  the  dowager  and  of  the  reigning  queen.' 
Here  is  the  patent,  my  dear  sir," 

The  old  man  quietly  took  the  paper;  not  a  feature  of 
his  cold,  solemn  face  moved. 

Madame  Pricker,  however,  could  not  conceal  her  joy. 
With  a  cry  of  delight  she  hurried  to  her  husband,  to  em- 
brace and  congratulate  him  on  his  appointment. 

Pricker  waved  her  proudly  back. 

"  Why  do  you  congratulate  me  ?  "  he  said.  "  The 
house  of  Hohenzollern  has  only  done  justice  to  my  house, 
that  is  all.  The  title  of  court  tailor  to  the  reigning 
queen  has  become  an  inheritance  in  my  family,  and  it 
would  be  a  great  ingratitude  in  the  house  of  Hohenzollern 
to  withhold  it  from  me.  For  more  than  a  century  the 
Hohenzollerns  have  been  dressed  by  my  family;  we  have 
prepared  their  apparel  for  every  ball  and  wedding,  every 
baptism  or  burial;  and  if  they  were  arrayed  with  ele- 
gance, it  was  entirely  owing  to  our  taste  and  dexterity. 
The  proverb  says,  *  The  tailor  makes  the  man,'  and  it  is 
true.  We  made  the  coronation  dresses  of  both  the 
queens ;  it  follows  that  they  could  not  have  been  crowned 
without  our  assistance,  for  which  we,  of  course,  deserve 
their  gratitude." 

"  I  assure  you,  however,  my  dear  friend,"  said  PöUnitz, 
"  that  it  was  with  much  difficulty  I  obtained  this  appoint- 
ment for  you,  and  you  owe  me  some  acknowledgments. 
All  of  my  eloquence  was  necessary  to  induce  the  queen 
to  grant  my  prayer." 

Pricker  grew  pale,  and  his  countenance  lost  its  calm 
dignity. 

"Take  back  your  patent,"  he  said,  proudly,  handing 
the  baron  the  sealed  paper ;  "  I  will  not  accept  this  title 
if  it  is  not  given  willingly." 

-     "  No,  no,  keep  it,"  cried  Pöllnitz ;  "  you  merit  it ;  it  is 
your  right;  I  only  mentioned  the  difficulty  with  which  I 


170  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

obtained  it,  that  I  might  win  your  heart,  and  incline  you 
to  grant  a  request  which  I  wish  to  make." 

"  I  suppose  you  allude  to  the  five  hundred  dollars 
which  I  lent  you  last  month,"  said  Pricker,  smiling. 
"  Speak  of  that  no  more — the  debt  is  cancelled." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "  but  I  was  not  thinking 
of  that  small  affair;  it  was  quite  another  request  I 
wished  to  make." 

"  Let  me  hear  it,"  said  the  tailor,  with  a  most  gracious 
inclination  of  the  head. 

"  It  concerns  a  young  artist,  who  I  would  like  to 
recommend  to  your  protection,"  returned  the  crafty  Pöll- 
nitz, with  a  side  glance  at  Anna.  "  He  is  a  young  and 
talented  musician,  who  desires  to  gain  a  livelihood  by  giv- 
ing instruction,  but  unfortunately  he  is  a  stranger  here, 
and  has  found  but  few  patrons.  I  thought,  therefore, 
that  if  you,  who  are  so  well  known,  would  interest  your- 
self in  him,  and  give  him  your  patronage,  it  would  greatly 
benefit  him,  for  doubtless  many  others  would  hasten  to 
follow  your  example.  If  you  will  allow  him  to  give  sing- 
ing-lessons to  your  daughter  Anna,  his  fortune  is  as- 
sured." 

"  I  grant  your  request,"  said  Pricker,  solemnly,  not  for 
an  instant  doubting  the  motive  of  the  baron.  "  I  will  be- 
stow my  protection  upon  this  young  artist;  he  can  give 
my  daughter  a  daily  lesson,  that  is,  if  Anna  is  willing  to 
show  this  kindness  to  the  poor  young  man." 

Anna  could  scarcely  restrain  her  laughter,  as  she  re- 
plied : 

"  You  have  commanded  it,  and,  I  will  obey,  as  a  daugh- 
ter should  do." 

"Very  well,"  said  her  father,  majestically;  "that 
matter  is  arranged.  And  now,  baron,  I  beg  you  will  in- 
form me  at  what  time  the  coronation  will  take  place,  that 
I  may  make  my  preparations,  and  not  be  the  cause  of  any 
delay  on  that  solemn  occasion." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  i^l 

"  The  day  of  the  coronation  has  not  been  decided,  but 
it  will  certainly  not  be  fixed  before  the  first  of  August. 
You  will  have  time  to  make  all  your  preparations.  Later 
we  will  hold  a  consultation  with  her  majesty  the  queen, 
and  decide  the  style,  color,  and  material  of  the  costumes. 
I  will  only  give  you  a  single  word  of  counsel,  my  dear 
friend.  Accommodate  yourself  to  the  new  era.  Eemem- 
ber  that  we  have  a  new  king,  who  is  the  counterpart  of 
his  father.  The  father  hated  and  despised  elegance  and 
fashion — the  son  adores  them;  the  father  was  the  sworn 
enemy  of  French  manners — the  son  has  a  perfect  passion 
for  them:  and  if  you  would  please  the  son,  you  must  lay 
aside  your  old  German  habits  and  customs,  as  we  have  all 
done,  and  walk  in  the  new  path.  I  tell  you  a  new  era  is 
approaching,  a  period  of  glory  and  splendor.  Every 
thing  will  be  altered,  but,  above  all,  we  will  have  new 
fashions.  In  the  first  place,  you  must  rid  yourself  of 
your  German  apprentices,  and  replace  them  as  quickly  as 
possible  with  French  workmen  from  Paris.  That  is  the 
only  means  of  retaining  the  court  favor." 

Pricker  listened  to  all  this  with  horror  and  astonish- 
ment. His  cheeks  were  white,  and  his  voice  trembled 
with  anger,  as  he  cried: 

"  Never  shall  that  happen !  Never  will  I  adopt  the  in- 
novations which  are  now  the  fashion.  Shall  I  lay  aside 
my  respectable  dress,  to  replace  it  with  a  monkey-jacket, 
and  become  a  laughing-stock  to  all  honest  men?  Shall 
I  so  far  forget  my  God,  my  forefathers,  and  my  native 
land,  as  to  call  French  workmen  into  my  German  work- 
room ?  Shame  on  me  if  I  ever  conduct  myself  in  such  a 
godless  and  unchristian  manner!  Never  shall  a  French 
foot  cross  the  threshold  of  my  dwelling!  never  shall  a 
French  word  be  spoken  there !  I  was  born  a  German,  and 
I  will  die  a  German.  True  to  my  fathers,  and  to  the  com- 
mands of  my  sainted  sovereign,  who  hated  and  despised 
these  frivolous  French  fashions,  it  shall  be  my  pride  to 


172  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

retain  the  good  old  German  customs,  and  never  shall  a 
dress  cut  in  the  French  style  be  made  in  my  work-room." 

"  If  you  act  in  this  manner,  the  time  of  your  good 
fortune  is  past,"  said  PoUnitz. 

Pricker  paid  no  attention  to  him,  but  looking  at  the 
pictures  which  hung  on  the  wall,  he  bowed  respectfully 
before  one  of  them. 

"Look!"  he  said,  pointing  to  one  of  the  portraits, 
"  that  is  my  great-great-grandfather.  He  was  a  German, 
and  the  best  and  ablest  of  men.  With  him  began  the 
connection  between  the  houses  of  Hohenzollern  and 
Pricker.  For  him  the  Prince  George  William  created 
the  title  of  court  tailor,  and  he  would  wear  no  garment 
that  was  not  made  by  his  favorite.  He  remembered  him 
in  his  will,  and  from  that  time  began  the  importance  of 
the  Prickers. 

"  Then  look  at  the  next  picture.  It  is  the  portrait 
of  his  son,  who  was  the  court  tailor  of  Frederick  William, 
the  great  elector.  He  made  the  suit  worn  by  the  elector 
at  the  battle  of  Fehrbellin;  it  was,  however,  the  unhappy 
duty  of  his  son  to  make  the  burial-dress  of  this  great  man. 

"  But  with  this  portrait  begins  a  new  era  for  Prussia ; 
this  was  the  tailor  of  Frederick  the  Third,  and  he  made 
the  robe  and  mantle  which  Frederick  wore  on  the  day  of 
his  coronation.  His  son  succeeded  him,  and  now  began  a 
new  era  for  the  Prickers. 

"  The  son  did  not  follow  the  example  of  his  father ; 
he  was  of  a  softer,  a  more  poetical  nature.  He  loved 
flowers  and  poetry,  and  adored  beauty;  he  therefore  be- 
came a  lady's  tailor.  The  princess  royal,  Sophia  Doro- 
thea, appointed  him  her  tailor.  He  made  the  coronation 
robe  of  the  queen,  and  the  wedding-dress  of  the  Margra- 
vine of  Baireuth. 

"  When  he  died  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  the  now 
living  Pricker.  I  made  the  wedding-dress  of  the  Duchess 
of  Brunswick,  and  the  mourning  of  the  present  dowager- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  173 

queen.  And  now,  in  the  very  presence  of  my  ancestors, 
you  tempt  me  to  become  a  traitor  to  them  and  to  their 
customs.  No,  I  am  a  German,  and  I  remain  a  German, 
even  should  it  cause  my  ruin !  " 

He  bowed  to  the  amused  and  astonished  baron,  and 
walked  proudly  through  the  hall  to  his  work-room.  His 
wife  followed  him  with  folded  hands  and  heavy  sighs. 

Pöllnitz  and  the  lovely  Anna  were  again  alone. 

"  What  an  absurd  man ! "  said  Pöllnitz,  laugh'ing. 
"If  Moliere  had  known  him  he  would  have  worked  his 
character  into  a  charming  farce." 

"  You  forget  that  this  absurd  man  may  soon  be  your 
father-in-law,"  said  Anna,  sternly,  a,s  she  left  his  side. 

"  That  is  true,"  said  Pöllnitz,  smiling ;  "  we  will  spare 
him.  Come,  one  last  kiss,  my  beautiful  Anna — one  kiss 
as  a  reward  for  my  successful  acting.  To-morrow  you 
will  have  a  singing-master,  who  is  no  poor  wretch,  but  a 
celebrated  and  influential  musician,  who  has  undertaken 
to  instruct  you  out  of  pure  kindness  for  me,  for  he  is  not 
a  teacher  but  a  composer.  Graun  himself  will  be  your 
instructor,  and  it  rests  with  you  to  crown  our  love  with 
the  happiest  results." 


CHAPTER   VII. 

SOFFRI  E  TACI. 

The  most  ardent  desire  of  the  young  queen  was  about 
to  be  accomplished;  she  was  to  have  a  private  and  uncon- 
strained interview  with  her  husband.  The  days  of  resig- 
nation, of  hope  deferred,  and  of  hidden  sorrow,  were  now 
over.  The  dearly-beloved  and  longed-for  husband  had  at 
last  returned  to  her!     She  need  no  longer  hide  her  head 


1Y4:  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

in  shame  from  her  own  servants,  who,  she  imagines,  are 
secretly  laughing  at  and  mocking  her,  because  the  young 
king  is  so  cold  and  indifferent.  She  need  no  longer  envy 
the  poor  woman  she  saw  in  the  street  yesterday,  carrying 
dinner  to  her  laboring  husband.  She  will  also  have  a 
husband,  and  will  feel  the  guiding  and  supporting  arm 
of  a  strong  man  at  her  side.  ISTo  longer  will  she  be  a 
poor,  neglected  queen,  but  a  proud  and  happy  wife,  envied 
of  all  the  world. 

He  had  written  that  he  desired  to  pay  her  a  visit,  and 
had  requested  her  not  to  lock  her  door,  as  important  busi- 
ness would  prevent  his  coming  until  quite  late.  He 
would,  however,  certainly  come,  as  he  desired  to  have  a 
private  interview  with  her  on  this  very  evening. 

How  wearily  the  hours  of  this  day  have  passed,  how 
slowly  the  sun  sank  to  rest!  It  is  at  last  evening;  night 
is  coming  on.  Elizabeth  can  now  dismiss  her  attendants, 
and  retire  to  her  private  apartments  to  await  her  husband. 
He  shall  see  how  joyfully  she  will  receive  him,  how  happy 
he  has  made  her.  She  will  adorn  herself,  that  he  may  be 
pleased;  she  will  be  beautiful,  that  he  may  smile  upon 
her. 

The  queen,  with  the  assistance  of  her  astonished  maids, 
attires  herself  for  the  first  time  in  one  of  the  charming 
negligees  recently  sent  by  the  Empress  of  Austria;  for 
the  first  time  she  dons  her  prettily-worked  and  coquettish 
little  cap,  and  encloses  her  tiny  feet  in  gold-embroidered 
white  satin  slippers.  This  negligee  is  really  charming, 
and  the  queen's  waiting-maids  assure  her  that  she  never 
looked  better,  and  was  never  more  becomingly  attired. 
But  the  queen  desires  to  assure  herself  of  this  fact,  and 
stepping  forward  to  the  mirror,  she  examines  her  dress 
with  the  careful  eye  of  a  connoisseur ;  then  bending  down, 
she  regards  her  face  attentively,  and  an  expression  of 
satisfaction  flits  over  her  features.  Elizabeth  sees  that 
she  is  young  and  pretty,  and  for  the  first  time  rejoices  in 


AND  HIS  COURT.  175 

her  beauty.  The  maids  regarded  with  astonishment  these 
unusual  preparations.  Why  was  Elizabth  now  so  much 
rejoiced  at  the  beauty  of  which  she  had  never  before 
seemed  conscious? 

The  toilet  is  at  an  end;  the  queen  seats  herself  on  the 
lig-ht  blue  sofa,  and  dismisses  her  maids  with  a  mute 
gesture.  But  when  the  first  maid  approaches  the  door, 
and  as  usual  drew  the  key  from  the  lock  in  order  to 
secure  it  from  the  outside,  Elizabeth  awakes  from  her 
dreamy  state  and  arises  from  her  reclining  position;  a 
glowing  color  suffuses  her  cheek,  and  a  happy  smile  plays 
around  her  lips. 

"  Do  not  lock  the  door  to-day,"  said  she,  with  emo- 
tion ;  "  I  await  the  king." 

As  if  astonished  at  her  new  happiness,  she  sinks  back 
on  the  cushions,  and  covers  her  glowing  face  with  her 
handkerchief,  as  if  to  shut  out  the  dazzling  light.  The 
waiting-maids  courtesy  respectfully,  and  leave  the  room. 
In  the  ante-chamber  this  respectful  expression  vanishes 
from  their  features,  and  they  turn  to  each  other  with 
mocking  and  derisive  laughter. 

"  Poor  queen !  she  wishes  to  make  us  believe  that  the 
king,  while  he  altogether  neglects  her  in  public,  some- 
times pays  her  a  secret  visit.  She  wishes  to  make  us  be- 
lieve that  she  is  really  the  wife  of  the  handsome  young 
king;  and  we  all  know — yes,  we  all  know " 

And  all  three  shrugged  their  shoulders  derisively,  and 
hurried  off  to  their  associates,  to  gossip  with  them  about 
the  poor,  despised,  neglected  queen. 

But  what  was  that?  Did  they  not  hear  a  carriage 
driving  into  the  inner  court,  and  the  guard  presenting 
arms  amid  the  rolling  of  drums  ?  Could  it  be  as  the  queen 
had  said?  was  the  king  really  coming  to  his  wife?  The 
waiting-maids  stood  and  listened;  they  heard  steps  on 
the  grand  staircase.  Yes,  it  was  the  king,  who,  preceded 
by  his  pages,  carrying  silver  candelabras  with  wax  candles, 


176  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

walked  hastily  down  the  corridor  to  his  chambers,  and 
from  thence  to  those  of  the  queen. 

What  the  queen  had  said  was  therefore  true.  He  did 
not  despise  her;  perhaps  he  loved  her!  The  astonished 
waiting-maids  hurried  off  to  inform  their  friends  that 
the  king  loved  his  wife  passionately,  and  the  royal  pair 
was  the  happiest  couple  on  earth.  Elizabeth  Christine 
also  heard  the  equipages  drive  in  to  the  court.  With  a 
cry  of  delight  she  sprang  from  her  seat  and  listened.  A 
fervent  glow  of  happiness  shot  through  her  veins.  She 
pressed  her  hands  to  her  heart  to  still  its  rapid  beating; 
her  countenance  was  illumined  with  joy.  But  these  feel- 
ings were  so  novel  they  almost  terrified  her,  and  filled  her 
heart  with  tremulous  anxiety. 

"  My  God,"  murmured  she,  "  give  me  strength  to  bear 
this  happiness,  as  I  have  borne  misery !  " 

But  her  prayer  died  on  her  lips,  for  she  heard  the  door 
of  the  corridor  open.  She  was  no  longer  the  queen,  no 
longer  the  resigned  and  timid  wife;  she  was  now  the 
happy  and  joyful  woman  hurrying  to  meet  the  husband 
of  her  love.  And  with  uplifted  head  and  proud  satisfac- 
tion she  might  now  confess  without  shame  that  she  loved 
him;  for  he  loved  her  also.  He  had  requested  a  rendez- 
vous, and  was  coming  as  a  lover — her  first  love  meeting. 
She  will  not  be  shy  and  silent  to-day,  now  that  she  knows 
he  loves  her;  her  tongue  will  no  longer  be  chained;  she 
will  have  courage  to  confess  all,  to  tell  him  how  ardently 
she  loves  him,  and  how  long  and  vainly  she  has  struggled 
with  her  heart ;  how  the  flames  had  ever  broken  out  anew ; 
how  his  glances  had  ever  renewed  the  ardor  of  her  love. 

There — he  knocked  at  the  door — she  could  scarcely 
breathe;  she  could  scarcely  bid  him  enter;  she  could  not 
move,  and  stood  transfixed  in  the  middle  of  the  room; 
she  could  only  stretch  out  her  arms  longingly,  and  wel- 
come him  with  her  smiles  and  tearful  glances. 

The  door  opened;  now  he  entered.     The  light  of  the 


AND  HIS  COURT.  177 

wax  candles  fell  on  his  face.  It  was  handsome  as  ever, 
but  his  eye  was  cold,  and  his  lips  uttered  no  loving  greet- 
ing. He  walked  forward  a  few  steps,  stood  still,-  and 
bowed  in  a  stiff  and  formal  manner.  A  chill  of  horror 
crept  over  Elizabeth;  her  arms  sank  down,  and  the  smile 
vanished  from  her  pallid  face. 

"  Madame,"  said  the  king,  and  his  voice  sounded 
harsher  and  colder  than  she  had  ever  before  heard  it — 
"  madame,  I  must  first  beg  your  pardon  for  having  dis- 
turbed you  at  so  unseemly  a  time,  and  for  having  robbed 
you  of  an  hour's  sleep.  But  you  see  that  I  am  a  re- 
pentant sinner,  and  you  will  forgive  me  when  I  assure 
you  that,  as  this  is  my  first,  it  shall  also  be  my  last  viola- 
tion of  your  retirement !  " 

The  queen  uttered  a  low  cry,  and  pressed  her  hand  to 
her  heart.  She  felt  as  if  a  sword  had  pierced  her  breast, 
as  if  she  were  dying. 

The  king  raised  his  large  blue  eyes  with  a  surprised 
look  to  the  pale,  trembling  face  of  his  wife. 

"  You  are  pale,  you  are  ill,"  said  he,  "  and  my  pres- 
ence is  undoubtedly  annoying;  I  will  retire  and  send 
your  waiting-maids  to  your  assistance." 

While  he  was  speaking  the  queen  prayed  to  God  for 
courage  and  strength;  she  called  her  womanly  pride  to 
her  assistance,  and  struggled  against  her  tears  and  her 
despair.  The  king,  who  in  vain  had  waited  for  an  an- 
swer, now  hastily  approached  the  door,  murmuring  a  few 
impatient  words. 

But  Elizabeth's  courage  had  now  returned,  she  had 
conquered  her  heart. 

"  Remain,  sire,"  she  said ;  "  I  beg  you  to  remain ;  I 
feel  well  again.  It  was  only  a  passing  spasm  from  which 
I  often  suffer,  and  for  which  I  crave  your  indulgence." 

"  If  I  may  then  remain,"  said  the  king,  smiling,  "  per- 
mit me  to  conduct  you  to  a  seat." 

She  accepted  the  king's  proffered  arm  and  followed 


1Y8  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

him  to  the  sofa  on  which  she  had  awaited  him  with  such 
blissful  anticipations,  and  on  which  he  was  now  about 
to  put  her  heart  to  the  torture. 

The  king  did  not  seat  himself  by  her  side,  but  rolling 
an  arm-chair  forward,  seated  himself  at  some  distance 
in  front  of  her. 

"  Madame,"  said  he,  "  is  it  credible  that  we  two  have 
been  married  for  seven  long  years,  and  still  have  never 
been  as  man  and  wife  to  each  other  ?  Our  lips  were  forced 
to  pronounce  vows  of  which  our  hearts  knew  nothing. 
Having  been  forced  into  this  marriage,  you  must  have 
hated  me.  You  can  never  have  forgiven  me  for  having 
led  you  to  the  altar.  At  the  foot  of  the  altar  we  did  not 
vow  eternal  love  to  each  other,  but  eternal  coldness  and  in- 
difference; and  to  this  hour,  madame,  you,  at  least,  have 
faithfully  kept  this  vow." 

The  queen  sank  back,  murmuring  a  few  incompre- 
hensible words,  and  her  head  fell  wearily  upon  her  breast. 

The  king  continued :  "  I  come  to-day  to  solicit  your 
forgiveness  for  the  involuntary  injustice  which  I  com- 
mitted. I  have  made  you  unhappy,  for  you  were  forced 
to  give  your  hand  to  an  unloved  man,  of  whom  you  knew 
that  he  loved  you  not.  Madame,  it  is  unfortunately  true, 
an  abyss  lies  between  us,  and  this  abyss  is  filled  with  the 
blood  of  the  dearest  friend  of  my  youth.  Oh,  madame, 
forgive  me  this  wrong,  for  the  sake  of  what  I  have  suf- 
fered! I  then  had  a  soft  and  tender  heart,  but  it  was 
trodden  under  foot,  and  has  become  hardened.  I  placed 
full  confidence  in  the  world,  and  it  has  deceived  me  ter- 
ribly. I  have  suffered  more  than  the  poorest  beggar; 
I  was  forced  to  regard  my  own  father  as  a  cruel  enemy, 
who  watched  me  unceasingly,  awaiting  a  favorable  mo- 
ment to  give  me  a  death-blow.  It  was  necessary  that  I 
should  be  continually  on  my  guard,  for  the  smallest  fault, 
the  slightest  thoughtlessness,  a  trifle,  a  mere  nothing, 
was  sufficient  to  condemn  me.     Oh,  if  you  knew  with 


AND  HIS  COURT.  179 

what  vermin  I  have  been  publicly  calumniated  and  ac- 
cused! After  doing  their  utmost  to  make  me  odious  to 
the  world,  and  fearing  they  might  perhaps  still  fail,  they 
resorted  to  another  expedient  to  compass  my  ruin,  and 
endeavored  to  kill  me  with  their  ridicule.  Soffri  e  taci, 
this  Italian  proverb  was  then  the  motto  of  my  life.  And 
believe  me,  it  is  hard  to  obey  this  seemingly  so  dry  max- 
im; it  has  a  grand  significance."* 

The  king,  oppressed  as  it  were  by  these  reminiscences, 
leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  breathed  heavily.  With 
downcast  eyes  and  in  silence  the  queen  still  sat  before 
him,  charmed  by  the  music  of  his  words,  which  found  an 
echo  in  her  heart  like  the  dying  wail  of  her  youth. 

"  I  do  not  tell  you  this,"  continued  the  king,  after  a 
pause,  "  in  order  to  play  the  role  of  a  martyr  in  your 
sight,  but  because  I  wish  you  to  understand  by  what 
means  my  spirit  was  at  last  broken,  and  my  will  made 
subservient  to  that  of  my  father.  I  purchased  my  free- 
dom, madam,  by  chaining  you  to  myself.  But  in  doing 
this,  I  vowed  you  should  no  longer  be  bound  when  it 
should  be  in  my  power  to  release  you.  This  moment  has 
come,  and  true  to  my  vow,  I  am  here.  I  know  that  you 
do  not,  cannot  love  me,  madame.  The  question  arises, 
Is  your  aversion  to  me  so  great  that  you  insist  on  a  sepa- 
ration ? " 

The  queen  raised  her  head  and  looked  wonderingly 
into  the  mild  and  sorrowful  countenance  of  her  husband. 
She  could  no  longer  restrain  the  cry  which  trembled  on 
her  lips,  no  longer  stem  the  tide  of  tears  which  gushed  in 
torrents  from  her  eyes. 

"  My  God !  my  God !  "  she  exclaimed,  with  a  plaintive 
wail,  "  he  asks  me  if  I  hate  him !  " 

There  was  something  in  the  tone  of  her  voice,  in  this 
despairing  cry  of  her  soul,  which  ought  to  have  betrayed 
the  long-hidden  secret  of  her  love  to  the  king.     But  per- 

*  The  king's  own  words.    See  CEuvres,  etc.,  torn,  xvi.,  p.  161. 


180  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

haps  he  knew  it  already,  and  did  not  wish  to  understand. 
Perhaps,  in  the  nobility  and  native  delicacy  of  his  soul, 
he  wished  to  represent  the  indifference  and  coldness  which 
he  experienced  for  his  wife,  as  coming  from  herself. 
However,  the  king  did  not  seem  to  notice  her  tears. 

"  No,  madame,"  said  he,  "  I  did  not  ask  if  you  hated 
me,  for  I  well  know  that  your  noble  and  womanly  heart 
is  not  capable  of  this  passion.  I  merely  asked  if  your 
aversion  to  me  was  so  great  that  it  demanded  a  separa- 
tion.    I  pray  you  to  give  me  a  short  and  decisive  answer." 

But  Elizabeth  Christine  had  lost  the  power  of  speech; 
tears  rained  down  her  cheeks,  and  she  could  only  give  a 
mute  assent. 

"  You  are,  then,  willing  to  be  my  wife  before  the 
world  ? "  asked  the  king.  "  You  are  willing  to  remain 
Queen  of  Prussia,  and  nominally  the  wife  of  the  king? 
You  do  not  demand  that  my  reign  shall  be  inaugurated 
with  the  exposure  of  our  domestic  misfortunes,  and  that 
your  chaste  and  virtuous  name  shall  be  branded  about 
with  mine  before  the  calumniating  world  ? " 

"  No,"  said  the  queen,  with  feverish  haste,  for  she 
feared  her  strength  might  fail  her.  "  No,  I  do  not  de- 
mand it ;  I  desire  no  separation !  " 

"  I  thank  you  for  this  word,"  said  the  king,  gravely. 
"  It  is  worthy  of  a  queen.  You  then  feel  with  me  that- 
we  princes  have  not  even  the  right  to  cast  off  the  burden 
which  weighs  us  down,  but  must  bear  it  patiently  if  it 
serve  to  secure  the  stability  of  our  throne.  Enviable  are 
those  who  dare  complain  of  their  sufferings,  and  show 
their  scars.  But  it  becomes  us  to  wrap  ourselves  in  si- 
lence, and  not  to  show  to  the  miserable,  pitiful,  and 
drivelling  world,  which  envies  and  abuses,  even  while  ap- 
plauding us,  that  a  king  can  also  suffer.  I  thank  you, 
madame,  and  from  this  hour  you  will  find  in  me  a  true 
friend,  a  well-meaning  brother,  ever  ready  to  serve  you. 
Give  me  your  hand  to  this  contract,  which  shall  be  more 


AND  HIS  COURT.  181 

lasting  and  holier  than  that  blessed  by  priests,  to  which 
our  hearts  did  not  say  amen." 

In  his  proffered  hand  Elizabeth  laid  her  own  slowly 
and  solemnly.  But  when  he  clasped  it  in  his  own  with 
a  firm  pressure,  Elizabeth  started  and  a  cry  escaped  her 
lips.  She  hastily  withdrew  her  hand,  and  sinking  back 
on  the  sofa,  burst  into  tears.  Erederick  allowed  her  tears 
to  flow,  regarding  her  with  a  look  of  deep  sympathy. 

"  You  weep,  madame,"  said  he,  after  a  long  and  pain- 
ful pause.  "  I  honor  your  tears ;  you  weep  for  your  lost 
youth;  you  weep  because  you  are  a  queen,  and  because 
3'eason  has  conquered  your  heart  and  forbids  you  to  make 
yourself  free  as  any  other  woman  except  a  princess  might 
do.  Weep  on,  madame,  I  cannot  dry  your  tears,  for  like 
yourself  I  have  been  cheated  of  my  happiness;  like  your- 
self I  am  well  aware  of  the  sacrifice  which  we  are  both 
making  to  our  royal  standing.  Ah,  madame,  if  we  were 
only  private  individuals,  if  we  were  not  the  rulers  of 
Prussia,  but  her  subjects,  we  might  now  be  happy.  Feel- 
ing our  own  unhappiness,  and  desiring  to  save  our  sub- 
jects from  a  like  misfortune,  I  have  made  a  divorce  more 
easily  attainable." 

Elizabeth  arose  from  her  reclining  position  and  re- 
garded the  king  with  a  mournful  smile. 

"  I  thank  your  majesty,"  said  she.  "  It  is  noble  in 
you  to  alleviate  that  misfortune  for  others,  which  you 
have  determined  to  endure." 

"  Ah,  madame,"  exclaimed  the  king,  smiling,  "  you 
forget  that  I  have  in  you  a  noble  friend  and  sister  at  my 
side,  who  will  help  me  to  bear  this  evil.  And  then  we  are 
not  altogether  unhappy;  if  we  do  not  love,  neither  do 
we  hate  each  other.  We  are  brother  and  sister,  not  by 
blood,  but  united  by  the  word  of  the  priest.  But  never 
fear,  madame,  I  will  regard  you  only  as  a  sister,  and 
I  promise  you  never  to  violate  the  respect  due  to  your 
virtue ! " 


182  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  I  believe  you,"  murmured  the  queen,  blushing,  and 
inwardly  ashamed  of  the  charming  and  coquettish  negli- 
gee in  which  she  had  received  the  king. 

"  Before  the  world  we  are  still  married,  but  I  promise 
that  this  chain  shall  gall  you  as  little  as  possible.  In 
your  private  life  you  will  only  be  reminded  that  you  are 
still  my  wife,  when  it  is  absolutely  unavoidable.  At  the 
coronation  I  must  request  your  presence  at  my  side. 
When  this  is  over  you  will  be  as  free  and  independent  as 
circumstances  will  admit.  You  will  have  a  court  of 
your  own,  a  summer  and  a  winter  residence,  in  which  I 
shall  never  intrude." 

"  I  shall  then  never  see  you  again !  "  said  the  queen, 
in  the  sad  voice  of  resignation,  which  is  often  produced 
by  an  excess  of  pain. 

"  Oh,  I  pray  you,  madame,  to  permit  me  to  meet  you 
at  times  when  etiquette  demands  it;  but  I  shall  take  care 
that  these  meetings  take  place  on  official  and  neutral 
ground,  and  not  in  our  private  houses.  I  will  never  enter 
your  house  without  your  permission,  and  then  only  on 
particular  fete  days — your  birthday  for  instance;  and  I 
trust  that  you  will  not  refuse  to  receive  me  on  such  oc- 
casions." 

"  No,  I  will  not  refuse,"  replied  the  queen,  regarding 
her  husband  with  a  sad  and  reproachful  look.  But  Fred- 
erick did  not  see  this  look,  or  would  not  see  it. 

"  I  beg,"  said  the  king,  smiling,  "  that  you  will  permit 
me  to  present  you  with  the  castle  of  Schonhausen,  as  a 
reminiscence  of  the  hour  in  which  you  found  a  faithful 
brother,  and  I  a  noble  sister.  Accept  this  little  gift  as  an 
earnest  of  our  new  bond  of  friendship.  It  has  been  fitted 
up  and  prepared  as  a  summer  residence  for  your  use, 
and  you  can  retire  to  it  immediately  after  the  coronation, 
if  you  are  so  inclined." 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  the  queen  in  so  low  a  voice  that 
her   words   could   scarcely   be   distinguished.     "I   thank 


AND  HIS  COURT.  183 

you,  and  I  will  go  there  on  the  day  after  the  coronation ;  " 
a  sigh,  almost  a  sob,  escaped  her  breast. 

The  king  regarded  with  a  clear  and  penetrating  glance 
the  meek  woman  who  sat  before  him,  who  accepted  her 
joyless  and  gloomy  future  with  such  heroic  resignation. 
Her  mute  anguish  excited  his  compassion.  He  wished  to 
throw  a  sunbeam  into  her  dark  future,  to  warm  her  heart 
with  a  ray  of  happiness. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "  I  am  on  the  point  of  making  a  little 
journey  incognito,  in  the  meanwhile  you  can  go  to  Schon- 
hausen;  but  when  I  return  I  desire  to  spend  a  few  weeks 
in  Rheinsberg  in  my  family  circle,  and,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  madame,  you  are  a  member  of  my  family.  I  beg, 
therefore,  that  you  will  accompany  me  to  Rheinsberg." 

Elizabeth's  countenance  was  illumined  with  so  beauti- 
ful and  radiant  a  smile  that  even  the  king  saw  it  and  ad- 
mired her  beauty.  She  held  out  both  her  hands  and 
greeted  him  with  a  loving  glance,  but  her  trembling  lips 
refused  to  utter  the  words  which  her  heart  prompted. 

The  king  arose.  "  I  must  no  longer  deprive  you  of 
your  repose,  and  I  also  need  rest.  We  must  both  keep 
ourselves  well  and  strong  for  the  sake  of  our  country  and 
our  subjects,  for  we  both  have  a  grand  task  to  accomplish. 
You  will  administer  consolation  to  the  miserable  and 
suffering;  you  will  diffuse  happiness  and  reap  blessings; 
you  will  shine  as  a  model  of  nobility  and  feminine  virtue 
before  all  other  women,  and  through  your  example  will 
give  noble  wives  and  mothers  to  Prussia's  sons !  And  I," 
continued  the  king,  a  ray  of  enthusiasm  lighting  up  his 
handsome  face,  "  I  will  make  my  people  great ;  my  coun- 
try shall  have  a  place  in  the  counsels  of  mighty  nations. 
I  will  enlarge  Prussia  and  make  her  strong  and  powerful. 
My  name  shall  be  engraven  in  golden  letters  in  the  book 
of  history.  As  fate  has  destined  me  to  be  a  king,  and  will 
not  permit  me  to  spend  my  days  in  retirement  and  philo- 
sophic tranquillity  like  other  and  happier  mortals,  I  will 


184  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

at  least  endeavor  to  accomplish  my  mission  with  honor  to 
myself  and  advantage  to  my  people.  You  will  be  a  min- 
istering angel  to  the  needy  and  suffering  of  our  subjects, 
and  I  will  extend  the  boundaries  of  Prussia  and  diffuse 
prosperity  throughout  the  land!  Farewell,  Elizabeth! 
our  paths  will  seldom  meet,  but  if  I  were  so  fortunate  as 
to  believe  in  a  hereafter,  and  your  noble  and  gentle  nature 
would  almost  persuade  me  to  do  so,  I  would  say :  '  In 
heaven  we  will  perhaps  meet  oftener,  and  understand  each 
other  better.'  Pray  to  God  in  my  behalf.  I  believe  in 
God  and  in  the  efficacy  of  the  prayers  of  the  good  and 
pious.     Farewell !  " 

He  bowed  deeply.  He  did  not  see  the  deathly  pallor 
and  convulsive  trembling  of  the  queen.  He  did  not  see 
how  she,  after  he  had  turned  from  her  and  was  advancing 
toward  the  door,  hardly  knowing  what  she  did,  stretched 
out  her  arms  after  him,  and  whispered  his  name  in  a 
plaintive  and  imploring  tone.  He  hurried  on,  and  with- 
out once  turning  left  the  room.  On  the  outside  he  stood 
still  for  a  moment,  and  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief. 

"  Poor  woman !  unfortunate  queen !  "  he  murmured, 
returning  slowly  to  his  chambers.  "  But  why  pity  her  ? 
Is  not  her  lot  mine,  and  that  of  all  princes  ?  A  glittering 
misery — nothing  else !  " 

A  few  minutes  later  and  the  royal  equipage  again 
drove  through  the  court  yard. 

The  king  was  returning  to  his  summer  residence  at 
Charlottenburg.  The  queen,  who  was  on  her  knees,  cry- 
ing and  sobbing,  heard  the  carriage  as  it  drove  off. 
"  Gone !  he  is  gone ! "  she  exclaimed,  with  a  cry  of  an- 
guish ;  "  he  has  deserted  me,  and  I  am  a  poor  discarded 
woman !  He  despises  me,  and  I — I  love  him !  "  And 
wringing  her  hands,  she  sobbed  aloud.  For  a  while  she 
was  tranquil  and  prayed,  and  then  again  burst  into  tears. 
Her  soul,  which  had  suffered  so  long  in  silence,  once  more 
rebelled.     The  voice  of  her  youth  made  itself  heard,  and 


AND   HIS  COUKT.  185 

demanded  in  heart-rending  accents  a  little  sunshine,  a 
little  of  the  joy  and  happiness  promised  to  mankind. 

She  was  at  last  quieted;  she  accepted  her  destiny,  and 
bowed  her  head  in  humility  and  patience.  Morning  was 
already  dawning  when  Elizabeth  Christine  arose  from 
her  knees,  pale  and  trembling,  but  resigned.  "  Soffri  e 
taci!"  said  she,  sadly.  "This  was  the  motto  of  his 
youth,  and  this  shall  be  the  motto  of  my  whole  life! 
Soffri  e  taci!  how  sad,  and  yet  how  grave  are  these 
words !  Oh !  Frederick,  Frederick !  why  do  you  con- 
demn me  to  such  torture;  why  has  your  heart  no  pity 
with  me,  no  pity  with  my  love  ?  But  no !  "  she  exclaimed, 
firmly,  "  I  will  weep  no  more.  He  shall  not  despise  me. 
I  have  accepted  my  destiny,  and  will  bear  it  as  beseems 
a  queen.    Be  still,  my  heart,  be  still.    Soffri  e  taci! " 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

THE   CORONATION, 

Berlin  was  resplendent;  the  streets  were  filled  with 
happy  faces  and  gayly-dressed  people,  and  the  houses  gar- 
landed with  flowers.  To-day  was  the  young  king's  cor- 
onation festival. 

The  citizens  of  Berlin  were  assembled  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance,  and  the  nobles  and  officials  to  do  homage 
to  Frederick  as  their  king.  Crowds  were  moving  toward 
the  castle ;  all  were  anxious  to  see  the  king  in  his  corona- 
tion uniform,  to  see  him  step  upon  the  balcony  to  greet 
the  people  with  the  queen  at  his  side,  the  young  and 
lovely  lady  with  the  sweet  smile  and  cloudless  brow;  all 
wished  to  see  the  rich  equipages  of  the  nobility,  and,  if 


186  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

possible,  to  collect  some  of  the  coins  which,  according  to 
an  old  and  time-honored  custom,  were  to  be  showered 
amongst  the  people.  Thousands  were  standing  before 
the  castle,  gazing  intently  upon  the  balcony  where  the 
king  would  soon  appear.  The  windows  of  the  surround- 
ing houses  were  filled  with  lovely  women  richly  dressed, 
holding  wreaths  and  bouquets  of  fragrant  flowers  with 
which  to  greet  their  young  and  worshipped  king.  All 
were  gay  and  joyous,  all  were  eager  to  greet  the  new 
king  with  shouts  of  gladness.  The  people  were  ready  to 
worship  him  who,  during  a  few  weeks  of  his  reign,  had 
done  so  much  for  them;  had  showered  upon  them  so 
many  blessings;  had  opened  the  granaries,  diminished 
the  taxes,  and  abolished  the  torture;  who  had  recalled 
the  religious  sect  so  lately  driven  with  derision  from  Ber- 
lin, and  declared  that  every  man  in  Prussia  should  wor- 
ship God  and  seek  his  salvation  in  his  own  way.  Yes, 
all  wished  to  greet  this  high-minded,  high-souled  king, 
who,  being  himself  a  philosopher  and  a  writer,  knew  how 
to  reward  and  appreciate  the  scholars  and  poets  of  his 
own  land.  Frederick  had  recalled  the  celebrated  philoso- 
pher Wolf,  punished  some  time  before  by  Frederick  Will- 
iam. He  had  organized  the  Academy  of  Science,  and 
filled  it  with  learned  and  scientific  men  of  the  day.  All 
this  had  been  done  in  a  few  weeks.  How  much  could 
still  be  hoped  for  ? 

The  king  loved  pomp  and  splendor;  this  would  pro- 
mote the  industry  of  the  people.  How  much  money 
would  be  conveyed  through  him  and  his  gay  court  to  the 
working  classes!  What  a  costly  festal  life  would  now 
become  the  fashion  in  Berlin  and  what  a  rich  harvest 
would  the  manufacturers  and  tradesmen  reap!  ISTot  only 
the  people  dreamed  of  a  golden  era,  but  the  noblemen  and 
high  officials,  who  now  crowded  the  palace,  were  hopeful 
and  expectant,  and  saw  a  rare  future  of  costly  feasts  and 
intoxicating  pleasures.     The  stupid  and  frugal  entertain- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  187 

meats  of  Frederick  William  would  give  place  to  royal 
fetes  worthy  of  the  Arabian  Nights. 

Pöllnitz,  the  Grand  Chamberlain,  was  in  his  element; 
he  was  commissioned  with  the  arrangements  for  all  the 
court  balls,  was  empowered  to  order  every  thing  accord- 
ing to  his  own  judgment  and  taste,  and  he  resolved  to 
lavish  money  with  a  liberal  hand.  Pöllnitz  wished  to 
realize  his  great  ideal;  and  he  wished  to  see  embodied  in 
Frederick  the  picture  he  had  drawn,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
old  king,  of  a  true  cavalier.  The  king  had  given  him 
the  power  and  he  was  resolved  to  use  it.  He  thought  and 
dreamed  of  nothing,  now  that  the  court  mourning  was 
drawing  to  a  close,  but  the  costly  feasts  which  he  would 
give.  Pöllnitz  was  ever  searching,  with  an  experienced 
and  critical  eye,  amongst  the  ladies  and  maids  of  honor 
for  the  fascinating  beauty  who  should  charm  the  heart 
of  the  young  king,  and  draw  him  into  the  golden  net  of 
pleasure — the  net  Pöllnitz  was  so  anxious  to  secure  for 
him. 

That  the  king  did  not  love  his  wife  was  no  longer  a 
secret  at  court.  Who,  then,  would  win  the  love  of  this 
impassioned  young  monarch?  This  was  the  great  ques- 
tion with  Pöllnitz.  There  was  the  lovely  Madame 
Wreeckie,  who  had  shown  so  much  kindness  to  the  prince 
during  his  imprisonment.  Madame  Wreeckie  was  still 
young,  still  bewitching;  perhaps  it  was  only  necessary 
to  bring  them  together  in  order  to  rekindle  the  old  flame. 
There  was  Madame  Morien,  "  Le  Tourbillon,"  who  bad 
so  often  charmed  the  prince  during  his  minority,  and  for 
whom  he  had  manifested  a  passionate  preference.  To  be 
sure,  since  his  coronation  he  had  not  noticed  her,  she  had 
not  received  a  single  invitation  to  court.  Then  Dorris 
Ritter,  the  poor  innocent  young  girl  who  had  been 
flogged  through  the  streets  of  Berlin,  her  only  fault  being 
that  she  was  the  first  love  of  the  crown  prince.  Would  the 
king,  now  that  he  was  free  to  act,  remember  poor  Dorris 


188  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

and  what  she  had  suffered  for  him ;  her  sorrow,  her  shame, 
and  her  despair?  Would  not  Dorris  Hitter  now  rise  to 
power  and  influence,  be  prayed  to  as  a  lovely  saint,  her 
shame  being  covered  with  a  martyr's  crown?  PöUnitz 
determined  to  keep  an  eye  on  Dorris  Eitter,  and  if  the 
king  showed  no  special  interest  in  any  other  woman,  to 
draw  her  from  her  exile  and  abasement.  But,  alas!  the 
coronation  threw  no  light  upon  this  torturing  subject. 
Pöllnitz  had  hoped  in  vain  that  a  round  of  intoxicating 
pleasures  would  begin  with  this  day;  in  vain  did  he  sug- 
gest to  the  king  that  a  court  ball  should  crown  the  solem- 
nities of  the  day. 

"  No,"  said  Frederick,  "  this  shall  be  no  day  of 
thoughtless  joy;  it  brings  me  sad  retrospective  thoughts 
and  the  consciousness  of  weighty  duties.  On  this  day  my 
father  seems  to  me  to  die  anew.  Dismiss,  therefore, 
your  extravagant  fancies  to  a  more  fitting  time.  I  can- 
not trust  you,  Pöllnitz,  with  the  decorations  of  the  throne, 
your  taste  is  too  oriental  for  this  occasion;  I  will  there- 
fore place  this  affair  in  the  hands  of  M.  Costellan,  who 
will  order  the  simple  decorations  which  I  deem  most 
fitting." 

The  grand  chamberlain  could  only  shrug  his  shoulders 
contemptuously,  and  rejoice  that  he  was  not  compromised 
by  these  contemptible  arrangements ;  he  grumbled  to  him- 
self, and  said  scornfully :  "  This  pitiful  saloon,  with  no 
gilded  furniture,  no  paintings,  no  works  of  art,  with 
faded,  shabby  silk  curtains ;  and  that  black,  uncouth  struc- 
ture, is  that  really  a  throne — the  throne  of  a  young  king? 
A  long  platform  covered  with  cloth;  an  old  arm-chair, 
black,  worn,  and  rusty;  a  canopy  covered  with  black 
cloth ;  faugh !  it  looks  like  a  crow  with  his  wings  spread. 
Can  this  be  the  throne  of  a  king  who  receives  for  the  first 
time  the  homage  of  his  subjects  ? "  A  contemptuous 
mocking  smile  was  on  the  lips  of  Pöllnitz  as  he  saw  the 
king  and  his  three  brothers  enter  the  room. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  189 

Pöllnitz  could  hardly  suppress  a  cry  of  horror,  as 
he  looked  at  the  king.  What,  no  embroidered  coat,  no 
ermine  mantle,  no  crown,  nothing  but  the  simple  uni- 
form of  the  guard,  no  decorations — not  even  the  star 
upon  his  breast,  to  distinguish  him  from  the  generals 
and  officials  who  surrounded  him!  Nevertheless,  as 
Frederick  stood  upon  that  miserable  platform  with  the 
princes  and  generals  at  his  side,  there  was  no  one  that 
could  be  compared  with  him;  he  seemed,  indeed,  to  stand 
alone,  his  bearing  was  right  royal;  his  countenance 
beamed  with  a  higher  majesty  than  was  ever  that  lent  by  a 
kingly  crown;  the  fire  of  genius  was  seen  in  the  flashes 
of  his  piercing  eye;  proud  and  fearless  thoughts  were 
engraved  upon  his  brow,  and  an  indescribable  grace 
played  around  his  finely-formed  mouth.  There  stood, 
indeed,  "  Frederick  the  Great ;  "  he  did  not  need  the  pur- 
ple mantle,  or  the  star  upon  his  breast.  God  had  marked 
him  with  elevated  kingly  thoughts,  and  the  star  which 
was  wanting  on  his  breast  was  replaced  by  the  lustre  of 
his  eye. 

The  solemn  address  of  the  minister  of  state,  and  the 
reply  of  President  Görner,  were  scarcely  listened  to. 
Frederick,  though  silent,  had  said  more  than  these  two 
ministers,  with  all  their  rounded  periods;  his  glance  had 
reached  the  heart  of  every  one  who  looked  upon  him,  and 
said,  "  I  am  thy  king  and  thy  superior ;  "  they  bowed 
reverently  before  him,  not  because  chance  had  made  him 
their  sovereign,  they  were  subdued  by  the  power  of  in- 
tellect and  will.  The  oath  of  allegiance  was  taken  with 
alacrity.  The  king  stood  motionless  upon  his  throne, 
betraying  no  emotion,  calm,  impassive,  unapproachable, 
receiving  the  homage  of  his  subjects,  not  haughtily  but 
with  the  composed  serenity  of  a  great  spirit  accepting 
the  tribute  due  to  him,  and  not  dazzled  by  the  offering. 

The  coronation  was  at  an  end.  Frederick  stepped 
from  the  throne,  and  nodded  to  his  brothers  to  follow 

MuHLBACH  9  Vol.  1 


190  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

him;  the  servants  hastily  opened  the  doors  which  led  to 
the  balcony,  and  carried  out  the  bags  filled  with  the  gold 
and  silver  coins.  The  air  resounded  with  the  shouts  of 
the  populace.  The  king  drew  near  to  the  iron  railing, 
and  greeted  his  subjects  with  a  cordial  smile.  "  You  are 
my  children,"  he  said,  "  you  have  a  right  to  demand  of 
your  father  love,  sympathy,  and  protection,  and  you  shall 
have  them."  Then  taking  a  handful  of  coin  he  scattered 
it  amongst  the  crowd.  Shouts  of  merriment  and  a  fear- 
ful scuffling  and  scrambling  was  seen  and  heard  below; 
each  one  wished  to  secure  a  coin  thrown  by  the  king 
himself,  and  they  scarcely  noticed  the  silver  and  gold 
which  the  young  princes  were  scattering  with  liberal 
hands;  all  these  were  worthless,  as-  long  as  it  was  pos- 
sible to  secure  one  piece  which  had  been  touched  by 
Frederick.  The  king  saw  this,  and,  much  flattered  by 
this  disinterested  mark  of  love,  he  again  scattered  the 
coin  far  and  wide. 

While  the  men  were  struggling  roughly  and  angrily 
for  this  last  treasure,  a  weak,  pallid  woman  sprang  boldly 
into  the  thickest  of  the  surging  crowd.  Until  now  she  had 
been  cold  and  indifferent;  the  coins  thrown  by  the  young 
princes,  and  which  had  fallen  at  her  feet,  she  had  cast 
from  her  with  disdain;  now,  however,  as  the  king  once 
more  cast  the  coins  in  the  midst  of  the  gaping  crowd, 
with  a  power  which  passion  only  gives  she  forced  her  way 
amongst  the  wild  multitude,  and  with  outstretched  arms 
she  shrieked  out,  "  Oh !  give  me  one  of  these  small  coins, 
only  a  silver  one,  give  it  to  me  as  a  keepsake !  Oh !  for 
God's  sake,  give  me  one !  "  Suddenly  strange  murmurs 
and  whispers  were  heard  from  amongst  those  who  now 
recognized  this  poor  outcast;  they  looked  askance  at  her, 
they  shrank  from  her  as  from  a  leper;  and  she  who  a 
moment  before  had  sued  to  them  so  hvunbly,  now  stood 
in  their  midst  like  an  enraged  lioness. 

"  It   is   she ! — it   is   she !  "  they   whispered ;  "  she   has 


AND  HIS  COURT.  191 

come  to  see  the  king,  for  whom  she  suffered  so  much; 
for  his  sake  she  had  been  covered  with  shame;  she 
has  been  driven  from  amongst  the  poor  and  innocent,  and 
now  she  dares  to  come  amongst  us !  "  cried  a  harsh  and 
pitiless  voice. 

"  We  know  how  cruelly  she  was  insulted  and  abused," 
said  another,  "  but  we  all  know  that  she  was  innocent ; 
my  heart  is  full  of  pity  for  her,  and  she  has  a  right  to  a 
coin  touched  by  the  king."  The  last  speaker  approached 
the  poor  woman,  and  offered  both  a  gold  and  silver  coin. 
"  Take  these  coins,  I  beg  you,  and  may  they  be  to  you  an 
earnest  of  a  better  and  happier  future." 

She  gazed  with  a  hard  and  tearless  eye  upon  the 
good-natured,  kindly  face.  "No,  there  is  no  happy 
future  for  me — nothing  but  want,  and  misery,  and  de- 
spair; but  I  thank  you  for  your  pity,  and  I  accept  these 
coins  as  a  memento  of  this  hour."  She  took  them  and  laid 
them  in  her  tattered  dress,  walked  erect  through  the  circle 
which  gathered  around,  and  was  soon  lost  in  the  crowd. 

She  was  soon  forgotten.  The  king  with  his  brilliant 
suite  was  still  upon  the  balcony,  they  had  not  noticed  the 
scene  passing  amongst  the  people  below;  none  of  them 
remarked  this  poor  creature,  who,  having  made  her  way 
through  the  crowd,  now  leaned  against  one  of  the  pillars 
of  the  spire,  and  gazed  earnestly  upon  the  king.  The 
money  was  exhausted,  the  king  had  shown  himself  to  the 
people  sufficiently,  and  now,  according  to  etiquette,  he 
must  leave  the  balcony  and  make  the  grand  tour  of  the 
saloons,  greeting  with  kind  and  gracious  words  the  as- 
sembled nobles.  He  motioned,  however,  to  his  followers 
to  leave  him,  he  wished  to  remain  a  few  moments  alone, 
and  look  thoughtfully  upon  this  sea  of  upturned  faces. 
Frederick  gazed  eagerly  below.  That  was  no  inanimate 
and  pulseless  creation  moved  to  and  fro  by  the  wind, 
which  he  now  looked  upon,  but  a  living,  thinking,  im- 
mortal people;  with  hearts  to  hate  or  love,  with  lips  to 


192  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

bless  or  curse,  their  verdict  would  one  day  decide  the 
great  question  as  to  his  fame  and  glory  as  a  monarch,  or 
his  neglect  of  holy  duty,  and  the  eternal  shame  which 
follows.  They  seemed  to  Frederick  to  be  pleading  with 
him;  they" demanded  but  little — a  little  shade  to  rest  in 
when  weary  with  their  daily  labor;  prompt  justice  and 
kindly  protection,  the  right  to  live  in  peace,  bearing  the 
burden  and  sorrow  of  their  lives  patiently;  pity  for  their 
necessities,  forbearance  for  their  weakness  and  folly. 
What  did  he,  their  king,  demand  of  them?  That  alone, 
which  a  million  of  people,  his  people,  could  bestow,  im' 
mortal  fame! — they  must  give  him  the  laurel  of  the 
hero,  and  crown  him  with  the  civic  wreath;  he  would 
make  his  subjects  strong,  healthy,  and  happy — they  must 
make  his  greatness  known  to  all  the  world,  and  future 
ages. 

Such  were  the  thoughts  of  the  king  as  he  stood  alone 
upon  the  balcony.  His  eye  often  wandered  across  to  the 
spire,  and  as  often  as  it  did  the  wretched  woman  who  was 
leaning  against  the  pillar  trembled  fearfully,  and  her  lips 
and  cheeks  became  deadly  pale.  The  king  did  not  see 
her;  he  saw  nothing  of  the  outer  world,  his  eye  was 
turned  within,  reading  the  secrets  of  his  own  heart. 

In  the  grand  saloons  the  nobles  stood  waiting  in  grim 
and  angry  silence  the  return  of  Frederick;  a  cloud  rested 
upon  every  brow;  even  Pöllnitz  could  no  longer  retain 
his  gracious  and  stereotyped  smile ;  he  felt  it  to  be  a  bitter 
grievance  that  the  king  should  keep  the  nobility  waiting 
while  he  stood  gazing  at  a  dirty  mass  of  insignificant 
creatures  called  human  beings !  Looking  around  the  cir- 
cle, Pöllnitz  saw  displeasure  marked  upon  every  face  but 
three.  "  Ah,"  said  he  to  himself,  "  there  are  the  three 
Wreeckies;  no  doubt  they  have  come  to  be  rewarded  for 
services  rendered  the  crown  prince;  they  were  doubtless 
dangerous  rivals  for  us  all;  they  suffered  much  for  the 
prince,  and  were  banished  seven  years  from  court  on  his 


AND   HIS  COURT.  193 

account.  The  king  must  indemnify  them  for  all  this, 
and  who  knows,  perhaps  he  may  give  them  the  house  in 
Jäger  Street,  the  house  I  am  in  the  habit  of  calling  mine ! 
Well,  I  must  draw  near  them  and  hear  all  the  kin^  prom- 
ises." So  saying,  Pöllnitz  drew  quietly  near  the  Mes- 
sieurs Wreeckie.  At  this  moment  there  was  a  movement 
in  the  vast  assembly,  and  all  bowed  low;  as  the  king 
stepped  into  the  saloon  he  commenced  the  grand  tour  of 
the  room;  he  had  a  kind  and  friendly  word  for  all;  at 
last  he  reached  the  Messieurs  Wreeckie,  and  remained 
standing  before  them.  All  glances  were  now  directed 
to  this  group;  all  held  their  breath,  not  wishing  to  lose 
a  word  which  Frederick  should  say  to  these  formidable 
rivals. 

The  king  stood  before  them,  his  eye  was  severe,  and 
his  brow  clouded.  "  Gentlemen,"  he  said,  "  it  has  been  a 
long  time  since  I  have  seen  you  at  the  court  of  the  King 
of  Prussia.  I  suppose  you  seek  the  prince  royal;  I  do 
not  think  you  will  find  him  here.  At  this  court  you  will 
only  find  a  king  who  demands,  above  all  things,  that  his 
majesty  should  be  respected;  that  you  subjugate  your- 
selves to  him  in  silent  obedience;  even  when  his  orders 
appear  harsh  and  cruel  they  must  not  be  questioned  for 
a  moment;  he  who  opposes  the  will  of  the  king  deserves 
punishment;  I  will  not  bear  opposition  at  my  court. 
There  is  but  one  will,  but  one  law;  that  is  the  will  and 
law  of  the  king !  "  And,  without  further  greetings,  he 
passed  on. 

The  Wreeckies  stood  pale  and  trembling,  and  the  face 
of  Pöllnitz  was  radiant  with  contentment.  "  Well,  those 
poor  fellows  will  not  receive  my  house  in  Jäger  Street," 
he  said  to  himself,  "they  have  fallen  into  disgrace;  it 
appears  the  king  wants  to  punish  all  those  who  rendered 
good  service  to  the  prince  royal.  Louis  the  Fourteenth 
said:  *  It  is  most  unworthy  of  a  French  king  to  punish 
any  wrong  done  to  the  crown  prince ; '  here  the  rule  is 


194:  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

reversed — the  King  of  Prussia  deems  it  unworthy  to  re- 
ward the  services  rendered  the  prince  royal.  But  what  is 
the  meaning  of  that  crowd  over  there  ?  "  he  exclaimed, 
interrupting  himself,  "  why  is  the  lord  marshal  approach- 
ing his  majesty  with  such  an  eager,  joyful  air?  I  must 
know  what  is  going  on."  Again  Pöllnitz  made  his  way 
through  the  courtiers  and  arrived  safely,  right  behind 
the  king,  just  as  my  lord  marshal  was  saying  in  an  ex- 
cited voice :  "  Your  majesty,  there  is  a  young  man  in  the 
next  room  who  begs  your  highness  to  allow  him  to  throw 
himself  at  your  feet  and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance; 
he  has  come  from  America  to  greet  you  as  king.  So  soon 
as  he  heard  of  the  illness  of  your  father,  he  left  his 
asylum  and  has  travelled  night  and  day;  he  has  finished 
his  journey  at  a  most  fortunate  moment." 

The  eye  of  the  king  rested  coldly,  unmoved  on  the 
speaker;  and  even  after  he  ceased  speaking,  regarded  him 
sternly.  "  What  is  the  name  of  this  young  man,  for 
whom  you  show  so  lively  an  interest  ? "  said  the  king, 
after  a  pause. 

The  lord  marshal  looked  perplexed  and  frightened; 
he  thought  the  king's  heart  should  have  told  him  who 
stood  without;  who  it  was  that  had  left  his  asylum  in 
America  and  longed  to  greet  the  new  king.  "  Sire,"  he 
said,  hesitatingly,  "  your  majesty  demands  to  know  the 
name  of  this  young  man  ?  " 

"  I  demand  it." 

The  lord  marshal  breathed  quickly.  "  Well,  your  maj- 
esty, it  is  my  nephew;  it  is  Lieutenant  Keith,  who  has 
come  from  America  to  throw  himself  at  your  majesty's 
feet." 

Not  a  muscle  of  the  king's  countenance  moved.  "  I 
know  no  Lieutenant  Keith,"  he  said,  sternly ;  "  he  who 
was  once  known  to  me  by  that  name  was  stricken  from 
the  officers'  roll  with  the  stigma  of  disgrace  and  shame, 
and  'was  hung  by  the  hangman  in  effigy,  upon  the  gallows. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  195 

If  Mr.  Keith  is  still  living,  I  advise  him  to  remain  in 
America,  where  no  one  knows  of  his  crime,  or  of  his  igno- 
minious punishment." 

"Your  majesty  will  not  receive  him,  then?"  said  the 
lord  marshal,  with  a  trembling  voice. 

"  You  may  thank  God,  sir,  that  I  do  not  receive  him 
— above  all,  that  I  ignore  his  being  here;  if  I  should 
know  that  he  still  lived,  I  should  be  forced  to  execute  the 
sentence  to  which  he  was  condemned  by  the  court-mar- 
tial." Slightly  nodding  to  the  lord  marshal,  the  king 
passed  on  and  spoke  a  few  indifferent  words  to  some 
gentlemen  standing  near. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Keith  will  not  get  my  house  in  the  Jäger 
Street,"  said  Pöllnitz,  laughing  slightly.  "  What  is  the 
matter  with  this  king,  he  seems  to  have  lost  his  memory? 
God  grant  he  may  not  forget  who  it  was  that  induced 
Frederick  William  to  pay  the  debts  of  the  prince  royal, 
and  to  present  him  with  the  Trakener  stud." 


CHAPTER  IS. 

DORRIS  RITTER. 

When  the  king  had  left  the  balcony,  a  poor  young 
woman,  who  had  been  sitting  on  the  steps  of  the  cathe- 
dral, arose  and  looked  fearfully  around  her.  The  sight 
of  the  king  had  carried  her  far  away,  she  had  been  dream- 
ing of  the  blissful  days  of  the  past.  His  disappearance 
brought  her  back  to  the  present — the  sad,  comfortless 
present.  The  king  had  left  the  balcony.  What  had  she 
to  do  in  this  mob,  that  might  again  mock,  insult,  or  com- 
miserate her!  she  could  stand  neither  their  sneers  nor 
their  pity,  she  must  flee  from  both. 


196  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

With  a  hasty  movement  she  drew  her  shawl  tighter 
around  her  poor  slender  figure,  and  hurried  through  the 
crowd.  She  came  at  last  to  a  miserable  small  house. 
The  low  narrow  door  seemed  unfriendly,  inhospitable,  as 
if  it  would  permit  no  one  to  pass  its  threshold  and  enter 
its  dreary,  deserted  rooms,  from  which  no  sound  of  life 
proceeded.  But  this  small,  quiet  dwelling  ought  to  have 
been  a  house  of  labor  and  occupation,  and  would  not  have 
been  so  poor  and  pitiful  looking  if  the  large  iron  bell 
hanging  over  the  door  had  been  oftener  in  motion,  and 
filled  the  silent  space  with  its  cheerful  sound. 

Behind  this  door  there  was  a  shop,  but  the  bell  was 
generally  silent,  and  purchasers  rarely  came  to  buy  in  this 
miserable  little  store  the  articles  which  could  be  pur- 
chased more  reasonably  in  one  of  the  large  shops  belong- 
ing to  wealthy  merchants.  The  house  seemed  to  have 
seen  better  days.  It  had  some  claims  to  comfort  and  re- 
spectability. In  the  windows  were  placed  bright  shells 
and  cocoanuts;  there  were  the  large  blue  china  pots,  in 
which  the  costly  ginger  is  brought;  there  were  quantities 
of  almonds,  raisons,  citron,  and  lemons  in  glass  shells; 
neat  paper  bags  for  coffee,  and  small  Chinese  chests  that 
had  held  real  Chinese  tea.  But  these  bags  and  chests  were 
empty;  the  lemons  and  fruits  were  dried  and  hard;  the 
ginger-pots  held  no  more  of  their  strengthening  contents ; 
even  the  dusty,  faded  sign  over  the  door,  which  presented 
a  wonderfully-ornamented  negro  engaged  in  unrolling 
dried  tobacco  leaves,  was  but  a  reminiscence  of  the  past, 
for  the  tobacco  had  long  since  disappeared  from  the 
chests,  and  the  little  that  was  left  had  fallen  to  dust. 
The  store  contained  but  a  few  unimportant  things:  chic- 
ory for  the  poor,  who  could  not  pay  for  coffee;  matches, 
and  small  home-made  penny  lights,  with  which  poverty 
illuminated  her  misery  and  want;  on  the  table,  in  glass 
cans,  a  few  hardened,  broken  bits  of  candy;  a  large  cask 
of  old  herring,  and  a  smaller  one  of  syrup.     This  was 


AND  HIS  COURT.  I97 

the  inventory  of  the  shop,  these  the  possessions  of  this 
family,  who  alone  occupied  this  house  with  their  misery, 
their  want,  and  their  despair;  whose  head  and  only  stay 
was  the  poor  young  woman  now  leaning  wearily  against 
the  steps,  dreading  to  enter  her  house  of  woe  and  wretch- 
edness. She  arose  at  length  and  hastily  entered.  The 
bells'  hoarse  creaking  ring  was  heard,  and  a  poor,  pale 
boy  hastened  forward  to  inquire  the  comer's  wants.  He 
stopped  and  looked  angrily  at  the  poor  woman  who  had 
entered. 

"  Ah,  it  is  you,  mother,"  said  he,  peevishly.  "  I  hoped 
it  was  some  one  wishing  to  buy,  then  I  could  have  bought 
some  bread." 

"  Bread !  "  said  the  mother  anxiously ;  "  did  I  not, 
before  I  went  out,  give  you  the  money  to  buy  bread  for 
you  and  your  little  sister  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  when  father  came  home  he  threatened  to 
beat  me  if  I  did  not  give  up  the  money  at  once;  I  was 
frightened,  and  gave  it;  then  he  left,  and  Anna  and  I 
have  been  crying  for  bread,  while  our  father  is  amusing 
himself  at  the  alehouse  and  our  mother  has  taken  a  holi- 
day, and  has  been  looking  at  the  festivities  which  I  also 
would  have  been  glad  to  see,  but  could  not,  because  I 
must  stay  at  home  and  watch  the  shop  into  which  no  one 
has  entered,  and  take  care  of  my  little  sister,  who  cries  for 
bread,  which  I  cannot  give  her."  As  he  finished  he  threw 
an  angry  look  at  his  mother,  who,  deeply  grieved,  had 
fallen  back  on  a  wooden  bench.  She  looked  lovingly -at 
her  son,  and  holding  out  her  arms  to  him,  said: 

"  Come,  give  me  a  kiss,  and  reward  me  for  all  my 
pain  and  suffering." 

"  Give  us  bread,  then  perhaps  I  will  kiss  you,"  said 
he,  harshly. 

She  looked  terrified  into  his  hard,  cold  face.  She 
pressed  her  hand  to  her  high,  pale  forehead,  as  if  she 
would  force  back  the  madness  that  threatened  her;  she 


198  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

held  the  other  hand  to  her  heart,  whose  wild,  feverish 
throbbings  were  almost  choking  her. 

"  My  God !  my  God !  "  murmured  she,  "  am  I  then  al- 
ready mad?  Am  I  dreaming?  Is  this  my  son,  my  Karl, 
who  loved  me  so  dearly — my  boy,  who  was  the  only  com- 
fort in  my  misery,  the  confidant  of  my  tears  and  wretch- 
edness ?  Can  I,  whom  he  looks  at  with  such  dark  glances, 
be  his  mother — his  mother,  who  joyfully  bears  for  him 
the  scorn  of  the  world,  who  has  suffered  and  hiingered 
for  him,  worked  for  him  during  the  long,  cold  winter 
nights — his  mother,  whose  love  for  him  was  so  great  that 
she  was  willing  not  to  die,  but  for  his  sake  to  live  on  in 
her  woe?  Karl,  my  son,  come  to  your  mother,  for  you 
well  know  how  tenderly  she  loves  you,  and  that  she  will 
die  if  you  do  not  love  her." 

"  No,  mother,"  said  he,  not  moving,  "  you  do  not  love 
me,  nor  my  little  sister  Anna;  for  if  you  loved  us,  you 
would  not  have  left  us  to-day,  and  joined  the  gay  people 
who  were  making  merry  while  your  poor  children  were  at 
home  groaning  and  crying." 

"  Oh,  my  child !  my  child !  I  did  not  go,  out  of  idle 
curiosity,"  said  she,  sadly.  "  I  went  to'  consult  the  oracle 
of  your  future,  and  to  see  if  there  was  not  to  be  some 
hope,  some  comfort  for  my  children;  if  this  would  not  be 
the  beginning  of  brighter  days.  I  wished  to  read  all  this 
in  a  man's  face;  I  wished  to  see  if  he  still  had  a  heart, 
or  if,  like  all  princes,  he  had  become  hard  and  pitiless." 

She  had  forgotten  that  she  was  speaking  to  her  son; 
she  was  addressing  herself,  and  had  entirely  forgotten 
that  he  was  present. 

"Ah,"  said  he,  sneeringly,  "you  thought  he  would 
now  give  you  money  for  your  shame;  but  father  told  me 
that  all  the  gold  in  the  world  would  not  wipe  out  this 
shame,  and  that  brandy  was  the  only  way  besides  death 
that  could  make  us  forget  that  we  are  despised  and  ac- 
cursed.   Father  told  me " 


AND  HIS  COURT.  199 

The  boy  stopped  and  retreated  a  few  steps ;  his  mother 
had  risen  from  her  seat  and  stood  before  him,  deadly  pale, 
with  widely-opened,  flashing  eyes,  with  trembling  lips; 
every  muscle  of  her  face  in  play;  her  whole  form  trem- 
bling in  a  paroxysm  of  rage  and  frightful  torture.  It 
was  not  the  head  of  a  woman,  but  a  Medusa;  not  the 
look  of  a  tender,  loving  mother,  but  of  a  wild,  angry, 
threatening  mad  woman. 

"  What  did  your  father  tell  you  ?  "  cried  she,  wildly, 
to  the  trembling  boy  before  her.  "  What  did  he  say  ?  I 
will,  I  must  know!  You  are  silent;  speak,  or  I  dash  my 
brains  out  against  the  wall,  and  you  will  be  guilty  of 
your  mother's  death." 

"  You  will  beat  me  if  I  tell  you,"  said  he  insolently. 

"  No,  no,  I  will  not  beat  you,"  said  she,  breathlessly ; 
and  folding  her  hands  as  if  to  pray,  she  continued :  "  My 
child,  my  child,  have  mercy  on  your  mother.  Tell  me 
what  he  said;  with  what  words  he  poisoned  your  heart, 
and  made  the  love  for  your  poor  mother  die  so  quickly. 
Tell  me  all,  my  son;  I  will  not  beat  but  bless  you,  though 
your  words  should  cut  my  heart  like  a  knife." 

She  wished  to  press  him  to  her  heart,  but  he  resisted 
passionately. 

"  No,"  said  he,  "  you  shall  not  kiss  me ;  father  said 
you  made  all  you  touched  unhappy  and  despised,  and 
that  we  would  be  well,  happy,  and  rich  if  you  were  not 
our  mother." 

She  shuddered;  her  arm  fell  powerless  to  her  side,  a 
hollow  groan  escaped  her,  her  eyes  were  fixed  and  tearless. 

"  What  more  did  he  tell  you  ?  "  murmured  she ;  "  with 
what  other  tales  did  he  amuse  my  child  ?  "  She  looked  at 
him  with  such  a  sad,  painful  smile,  that  he  trembled  and 
glanced  timidly  down;  he  now  saw  what  torture  he  was 
preparing  for  her. 

"  Father  was  drunk,"  said  he ;  "  when  he  heard  that 
you  had  gone  out,  he  was  furious ;  he  cursed  you  so  dread- 


200  FREDERICK   THE   GREAT 

fully  that  Anna  and  I  both  cried,  and  I  begged  him  not 
insult  you  so,  for  it  hurt  me,  for  then  I  still  loved  you." 

"  Then  he  still  loved  me !  "  said  his  mother,  wringing 
her  hands. 

"  But  he  laughed  at  me,  and  said  you  did  not  deserve 
our  love;  that  you  were  the  cause  of  all  our  misery  and 
want;  he  had  become  poor  and  wretched  because  he  had 
married  you,  and  taken  to  drink  so  as  not  to  hear  or  see 
men  pointing  and  laughing  at  you  when  you  passed. 
But,  mother,  you  look  so  pale,  you  tremble  so!  I  will 
say  no  more ;  I  will  forget  all  father  said ;  I  will  love  you, 
mother;  but  do  not  look  at  me  so  dreadfully,  and  do  not 
tremble  in  that  way." 

The  boy  wept  from  grief  and  terror.  His  old  love 
had  awakened;  he  approached  his  mother  to  kiss  her,  but 
now  she  pushed  him  back, 

"  I  do  not  tremble,"  said  she,  though  her  teeth  were 
chattering.  "  I  do  not  tremble,  and  you  must  not  forget 
what  your  father  said ;  you  must  tell  me  all  again.  Speak 
on,  speak!  I  must  hear  all,  know  all.     What  more  did  he 


say 


2" 


The  boy  looked  at  her  sadly.  His  voice,  which  before 
had  been  insolent  and  rude,  was  now  quiet  and  gentle, 
and  his  eyes  were  full  of  tears. 

"  He  said  he  married  you  out  of  pity,  and  because  you 
brought  him  a  few  thousand  dollars.  But  this  gold 
brought  no  blessing  with  it,  but  a  curse;  and  that  since 
then  it  had  gone  worse  with  him  than  with  the  execu- 
tioner, whom  all  despise,  and  who  dares  not  enter  an 
honest  man's  house.  But  that  you  were  more  despised  and 
disgraced  than  the  miserable  man  who  had  stripped  you 
in  the  open  market  and  whipped  you  through  the  streets; 
that  the  boys  had  pelted  you  with  mud,  and  that  the 
streets  became  red  with  the  blood  that  flowed  down  your 
back." 

The  poor  woman  gave  a  piercing  shriek,  and  fell  as  if 


AND  HIS  COURT.  201 

struck  by  lightning  to  the  floor.  The  boy  threw  himself 
weeping  by  her  side;  and  the  little  girl,  who  had  been 
sleeping  in  another  corner  of  the  room,  awakened  by  the 
scream,  came  running  toward  them  crying  for  bread. 

But  the  mother  moved  not;  she  lay  there  pale,  with 
closed  eyes;  she  was  cold  and  lifeless;  she  did  not  hear 
her  poor  little  girl  cry;  she  did  not  feel  the  hot  kisses 
and  tears  of  her  son,  who  was  imploring  her  in  anxious, 
tender,  loving  words,  to  open  her  eyes,  to  tell  him  that  she 
was  not  angry,  that  she  had  forgiven  him.  But  he  sud- 
denly stopped  and  listened  eagerly;  he  thought  he  heard 
the  well-known  sound  of  the  bell. 

"  There  it  was  again ;  if  it  is  father,  he  will  beat  me  to 
death,"  murmured  he,  as  he  went  toward  the  shop  door. 
"  He  forbade  me  to  repeat  a  word  of  all  that  to  mother." 

He  opened  the  door,  and  there  stood  not  his  father  but 
a  richly-dressed  gentleman,  who,  with  a  friendly  gesture, 
pushed  the  boy  aside  and  entered  the  shop. 

*'  I  want  some  tobacco,  my  little  fellow,"  said  he ; 
"  therefore  call  Mr.  Schommer  to  give  me  some  from  his 
best  canister." 

"  My  father  is  not  at  home,"  said  the  boy,  staring  at 
the  handsome,  friendly  gentleman. 

"  Well,  I  did  not  come  precisely  on  his  account,"  said 
the  gentleman,  with  a  strange  laugh.  "  Call  your  mother, 
Madame  Schommer,  and  tell  her  I  wish  to  make  a  pur- 
chase." 

"  Mother  is  lying  in  the  back  room  on  the  floor,  and  I 
believe  she  is  dead !  "  said  Karl,  sobbing. 

The  gentleman  looked  at  him  with  amazement.  "  Did 
you  say  dead?  That  would  be  very  inconvenient,  for  I 
have  greatly  counted  on  her  life.  What  did  she  die  of? 
Is  a  physician  with  her  ? " 

"No  one  is  with  her  but  my  little  sister;  you  can 
hear  her  crying !  " 

"  Yes,  I  can  hear  her ;  and  it  is  in  truth  no  edifying 


202  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

music.  "No  one  else,  did  you  say?  Where,  then,  are  your 
friends  ?  where  is  your  father  ?  " 

"  Father  is  at  the  ale-house,  and  friends  we  have  none ; 
we  live  all  alone,  for  no  one  will  live  with  us." 

"  Well,  if  you  are  alone,  I  may  go  to  your  mother," 
said  he,  with  a  careless  laugh.  "  It  is  likely  your  mother 
has  fainted;  and  as  I  am  learned  in  these  feminine 
swoons,  it  is  very  possible  I  may  call  her  back  to  life. 
Show  the  way,  little  Cupid,  and  lead  me  to  your  mother, 
the  fainting  Venus."  And  laughing,  he  followed  the  as- 
tonished boy  into  the  back  room. 

She  still  lay  without  movement  on  the  floor,  and  little 
Anna,  kneeling  by  her  side,  was  praying  for  bread. 

"  That  is  your  mother,  Madame  Schommer  ? "  asked 
the  strange  gentleman,  looking  curiously  at  the  pale 
woman. 

"  Yes,  that  is  my  mother,"  said  the  boy.  "  Mother, 
mother,  wake  up !  "  said  he,  covering  her  face  with  kisses. 
"  Wake  up,  I  do  not  believe  what  father  said.  I  will  love 
you!  He  was  drunk!  Ah,  my  dear,  dear  mother,  only 
wake  up ! " 

"  She  will  awake,"  said  the  stranger,  who  was  bend- 
ing over  her,  laying  his  hand  on  her  heart  and  temples, 
"  she  is,  as  I  thought,  not  dead  but  in  a  swoon." 

The  boy  laughed  aloud  with  glee.  "  My  mother  is  not 
dead,"  said  he,  crying  and  laughing  at  once.  "  She  will 
wake  up  and  love  me ;  we  will  all  be  so  happy !  " 

"  Mother,  mother,  give  me  some  bread !  "  whimpered 
poor  little  Anna. 

"  Are  you  then  so  hungry  ? "  said  the  stranger,  who 
was  getting  tired  of  this  scene. 

"  Yes,"  said  the  boy,  "  she  is  hungry ;  we  are  both  hun- 
gry. We  have  had  nothing  to  eat  all  day.  Mother  gave 
us  money  before  she  went  out  to  buy  bread  and  milk,  but 
father  came  and  took  it  to  buy  brandy  for  himself." 

"  A  worthy  father,"  said  the  stranger,  handing  him 


AND  HIS  COURT.  203 

something.  "  Here,  my  son,  is  some  money.  Take  your 
sister,  go  to  the  baker's,  and  get  something  to  eat,  then 
seat  yourselves  and  eat;  and  do  not  come  back  here  until 
I  call  you.  But  if  you  see  your  father  coming,  then  come 
and  tell  me." 

The  children  joyfully  hurried  to  the  door;  they  were 
not  now  thinking  of  their  poor,  fainting  mother,  but  of 
the  bread  they  would  buy  to  satisfy  their  hunger. 

"  But  who,"  said  the  boy,  turning  around,  "  will  watch 
the  shop  ? " 

"  Well,  I  will,"  said  the  stranger ;  "  I  will  watch  your 
mother  and  your  shop ;  go !  " 

The  children  hurried  away,  and  the  stranger  was  alone 
with  the  fainting  woman. 


CHAPTER   X. 

OLD  AND  NEW  SUFFERING. 

The  cavalier  stood  quietly  some  minutes,  showing  no 
sympathy  for  the  poor  insensible  woman,  and  making  no 
effort  to  arouse  her  to  consciousness;  he  examined  her 
face  searchingly  and  curiously,  not  from  sympathy  for 
her  sad  condition,  but  with  cold  egotism,  thinking  only  of 
his  own  special  object. 

"  Hum,"  murmured  he,  "  in  spite  of  pallor  and  atten- 
uation, there  are  yet  traces  of  great  beauty.  I  am  sure 
if  well  nourished  and  well  clothed  she  may  yet  allure  the 
heart  which  must  be  ever  touched  with  pity  for  her 
mournful  fate;  besides,  she  is  poor — hopelessly,  despair- 
ingly poor.  The  husband  is  a  drunkard,  the  children  cry 
for  bread;  she  is  so  poorly  clad,  so  pale,  so  thin;  hunger 


204  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

has  been  her  only  lover.  Under  these  circumstances  she 
will  readily  adopt  my  plans,  and  be  my  willing  tool;  she 
will  acknowledge  me  as  her  master,  and  by  God  I  will 
teach  her  how  to  bind  this  headstrong  fool  in  chains. 
He  has  so  far  escaped  all  the  pitfalls  which  Fredersdorf 
and  myself  have  so  adroitly  laid  for  him.  Dorris  shall 
be  the  Delilah  who  will  tame  this  new  Samson.  Truly," 
he  continued,  as  he  cast  a  look  of  contempt  upon  the 
senseless  form  lying  before  him,  "truly  it  is  a  desperate 
attempt  to  transform  this  dirty,  pale,  thin  woman  into  a 
Delilah.  But  the  past  is  powerfully  in  her  favor,  and  my 
Samson  has  a  heart  full  of  melting  pity  and  sensibility; 
moreover  all  previous  efforts  have  failed,  and  it  is  pardon- 
able to  seek  for  extraordinary  means  in  our  despair.  So 
to  work !  to  work !  " 

He  took  from  his  pocket  a  small  phial  of  English  salts, 
held  it  to  her  nose,  and  rubbed  her  temples  with  a  small 
sponge.  "  Ah,  she  moves,"  he  said,  resting  for  a  mo- 
ment from  his  work,  and  looking  coldly  and  curiously 
upon  the  poor  woman,  who,  with  a  shudder  of  newly- 
awakened  life,  now  turned  her  head,  and  whose  convulsed 
lips  uttered  short  sighs  and  piteous  complaints.  Pöllnitz 
rubbed  her  temples  again  with  the  strong  salts,  and  then, 
as  he  saw  that  consciousness  was  more  and  more  restored, 
he  raised  her  from  the  floor,  and  placed  her  softly  in  a 
chair.  "  Aiiso  armes,  auso  armes,'"  muttered  he.  "  La 
hattaille  commencera." 

The  woman  opened  her  eyes,  and  they  wandered  with 
an  anxious  and  questioning  look  here  and  there,  then  fell 
upon  the  stranger,  who,  with  a  smiling  and  observant 
glance,  followed  every  movement.  Her  eyes  were  fixed 
and  staring,  her  features  expressed  terror  and  scorn,  her 
whole  form  was  convulsed,  she  was  still  half  dreaming, 
half  unconscious.  But  her  eye  was  immovably  placed 
upon  him,  and  she  murmured  in  low  tones,  "  I  know  this 
face — yes,  I  know  this  cold,  smiling  face,  I  have  felt  it 


AND  HIS  COURT.  205 

twice!  When  was  it?  was  it  only  in  fearful  dreams,  or 
was  it  a  frightful  reality?  When,  where  did  I  see  this 
cold,  devilish  smile,  this  face  so  cold  and  heartless,  so  full 
of  iron  egotism  ?  " 

"  Truly,  she  does  not  flatter,"  murmured  Pöllnitz,  but 
without  changing  for  one  moment  his  watchful  but 
friendly  mien.  "  I  am  curious  to  see  if  she  will  at  last 
recognize  me." 

"  Pöllnitz ! "  cried  she  at  last,  with  flaming  eyes. 
"Yes,  it  is  you!  I  know  you!  you  are  Baron  Pöllnitz! 
Who  gave  you  the  right  to  enter  this  house?  what  brings 
you  here  ?  " 

"  I  repeat  your  question,"  he  replied,  smiling,  "  what 
brought  you  here,  here  in  this  gloomy,  miserable  room; 
here  where  hunger  and  wailing  have  their  dwelling;  here 
where  misery  grins  upon  you  with  hollow-eyed  terror? 
What  do  you  here,  Dorris  Eitter  ? " 

She  trembled  convulsively  at  this  name,  her  cheeks 
were  dyed  purple,  and  in  another  moment  became  ghastly 
pale.  "Why  do  you  call  me  Dorris  Eitter?"  she  cried, 
with  gasping  breath,  "  why  remind  me  of  the  past,  which 
stands  like  a  dark  spectre  ever  behind  me,  and  grins  upon 
me  with  bloody  and  shameful  horrors  ? "  Lost  wholly  in 
these  fearful  remembrances,  she  stared  before  her,  think- 
ing no  more  of  Pöllnitz,  forgetting  that  his  watchful  and 
heartless  eyes  were  ever  fixed  upon  her.  "Dorris  Eit- 
ter !  "  she  cried,  slowly,  "  Dorris  Eitter !  where  are  you  ? 
why  do  they  call  you  by  thy  name?  Can  they  not  re- 
member that  you  are  a  sleep  walker  wandering  on  the 
edge  of  a  precipice,  into  which  you  must  fall  headlong  if 
awakened  by  the  sound  of  your  name,  Dorris  Eitter?" 
she  said,  more  loudly,  fixing  her  eye  upon  Pöllnitz; 
"  how  dare  you  call  my  name,  and  tear  me  shrieking  from 
my  grave ! " 

"  ISTow,  that  is  exactly  what  I  wish,"  said  Pöllnitz ;  "  I 
will  raise  you  from  this  lowly  and  forgotten  grave;  you 


206  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

shall  forget  what  you  have  suffered;  you  shall  be  rich, 
happy,  distinguished,  and  envied." 

"II"  cried  she,  with  mocking  laughter,  "  and  you  will 
make  that  of  me!  You,  Baron  Pöllnitz,  you,  who  were 
partly  the  cause  of  my  misery,  and  who  looked  smilingly 
upon  my  shame !  What,  then,  what  have  I  done  to  deserve 
so  much  shame  and  sorrow  ?  My  God !  "  cried  she,  in  heart- 
rending tones,  "  my  heart  was  pure  and  innocent ;  I  dared 
raise  my  head  without  fear,  and  look  God  and  my  parents 
in  the  face;  even  before  him,  my  prince,  I  needed  not  to 
cast  down  my  eyes;  I  was  innocent,  and  he  loved  me  be- 
cause he  could  also  respect  me.  Alas!  it  was  so  silent, 
so  resigned  a  love ;  it  asked  for  nothing,  it  had  no  speech. 
Was  it  our  fault  that  others  saw  and  pointed  out  this  love 
without  words,  and  which  eyes  of  innocence  only  ex- 
pressed? We  stood  far  removed  from  each  other,  and  a 
gulf  lay  between  us,  but  heavenly  music  formed  a  golden 
starry  bridge  over  this  abyss,  and  the  holy  and  melodious 
tones  whispered  to  our  young  hearts,  the  complaints  and 
longings  of  a  speechless,  self-renouncing  love.  Only 
thus,  only  thus,  a  sweet  dream,  and  nothing  more !  Then 
you  came  to  awaken  us,  to  accuse  the  prince  of  high 
treason,  to  make  of  me  a  miserable  prostitute.  You  cast 
my  love,  which  I  had  only  confessed  to  my  Father  in 
heaven,  like  a  dirty  libel  and  foul  fruit  in  my  face;  you 
wished  to  spot  and  stain  my  whole  being,  and  you  suc- 
ceeded; you  crushed  my  existence  under  your  feet,  and 
left  me  not  one  blossom  of  hope !  Oh,  I  will  never  forget 
how  you  tore  me  from  the  arms  of  my  poor  father!  how 
you  cast  me  into  prison  and  chained  my  hands,  because  in 
the  anguish  of  my  shame  and  my  despair  I  tried  to  take 
that  life  which  you  had  dishonored!  They  came  at  last, 
and  dragged  me  before  the  king.  Two  men  were  with 
him,  one  with  a  common  red  and  swollen  visage,  with 
thick,  lascivious  lips,  with  red  and  watery  eyes — that  was 
Grumbkow;  the  other,  with  the  fine  friendly  face,  with 


AND  HIS  COURT.  207 

the  everlasting  deceitful  smile,  the  cold,  contemptuous, 
heartless  glance,  that  was  you.  Baron  Pöllnitz.  Ah,  with 
what  horrible  glances  did  these  three  men  look  upon  me! 
what  mockery  and  contempt  did  their  cruel  voices  express ! 
I  threw  myself  at  the  feet  of  the  king;  I  prayed  to  him 
for  mercy  and  grace ;  he  kicked  me  from  him,  and  shamed 
me  with  words  and  accusations  which  made  my  soul 
blush.  I  swore  that  I  was  innocent ;  that  no  sin  lay  upon 
me ;  that  I  had  never  been  the  beloved  of  the  prince ;  that 
I  had  never  spoken  to  him  but  in  the  presence  of  my  fa- 
ther. Then  laughed  they,  and  mocked  me,  and  loudest 
of  all  laughed  Baron  Pöllnitz,  and  his  words  of  scoffing 
and  insult  pierced  my  heart  like  a  poisoned  arrow,  and 
checked  my  flowing  tears." 

"  It  is  true,"  murmured  Pöllnitz ;  "  she  has  forgotten 
nothing." 

"  Forgotten !  "  cried  she,  with  a  wild  laugh,  "  can  I  for- 
get that  I  was  driven  through  the  streets  like  a  wild  beast ; 
that  I  was  stripped  by  the  rough  hands  of  the  hangman's 
boy;  that  I  heard  behind  me  the  scoffings  and  insults  of 
the  wild  mob  hired  for  the  occasion;  that  I  felt  upon  my 
naked  back  the  cruel  blows  of  the  executioner's  whip? 
Oh,  I  have  borne,  and  I  have  suffered ;  I  did  not  become  a 
maniac,  I  did  not  curse  God,  but  I  prayed  to  my  Father 
in  heaven  as  I  ran  like  a  baited  wild  beast  through  the 
streets.  I  saw  that  all  the  houses  were  closed,  that  no  one 
stood  at  the  windows;  no  one  had  the  courage  to  look 
upon  my  path  of  martyrdom,  and  it  comforted  me  even  in 
the  midst  of  my  torture,  and  I  blessed  those  men  who  were 
pitiful  to  me,  and  who  appeared  to  bear  testimony  to  my 
innocence  by  refusing  to  witness  my  cruel  punishment, 
and  I  ran  further,  and  the  hot  blood  flowed  down  my  back. 
Suddenly  I  came  upon  a  house  which  was  not  closed,  the 
door  was  open,  before  it  stood  the  servants  and  pointed 
the  finger  of  scorn  at  me,  and  mocked  and  jeered  at  me. 
On  the  balcony  stood   Baron  Pöllnitz,   with  his  stony, 


208  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

heartless  face !  Then  I  uttered  a  cry  of  rage  and  revenge, 
then  my  prayers  were  hushed  or  changed  into  wild  curses, 
and  I  yelled  and  howled  in  my  heart:  he  is  guilty  of  my 
shame,  he  with  his  cruel  jests,  his  pitiless  sneers,  has 
poisoned  the  ear  of  the  king,  has  destroyed  the  last  doubt 
of  my  guilt  in  the  heart  of  his  majesty.  Disgrace  and 
shame  upon  Baron  Pöllnitz !  may  he  be  despised,  lonely, 
and  neglected  in  the  hour  of  death;  may  remorse,  the 
worm  of  conscience,  feed  upon  his  soul,  and  drive  him 
hither  and  thither,  restless  and  homeless  all  his  life 
long!" 

She  uttered  a  wild  cry,  and  sank  back  powerless  and 
broken  in  her  chair. 

Baron  Pöllnitz  was  self-possessed  and  smiling 
throughout;  he  laid  his  hand  upon  the  nerveless  arm  of 
the  sobbing  woman,  and  said  with  a  soft,  flattering  tone : 

"  It  is  true  I  have  done  you  injustice,  but  I  have  come 
to  make  amends  for  the  past.  You  shall  yet  raise  your 
head  proudly,  and  no  one  shall  doubt  of  your  innocence." 

She  shook  her  head  sadly.  "How  can  that  help  me? 
My  father  died  of  shame;  my  husband,  who  married  me 
from  pity  and  because  I  had  a  poor  two  thousand  crowns, 
could  not  bear  that  men  should  flee  from  me  as  from  a 
branded  culprit;  this  grief  drove  him  to  drink,  and  when 
he  comes  home  drunk  at  night,  he  beats  me  and  shames 
me;  the  next  morning  he  prays,  with  strong  crying  and 
tears,  for  forgiveness,  but  goes  again  and  begins  anew 
the  same  sad  existence.     My  children !  " 

She  could  say  no  more;  her  words  were  choked  with 
tears,  as  she  thought  of  the  hard  and  frightful  language 
her  little  boy  had  used  to  her  that  morning. 

Pöllnitz  was  weary  of  the  complaints  and  sobs  of  this 
wretched  woman. 

"Weep  no  more,"  said  he;  "weeping  makes  the  eyes 
red,  and  you  must  henceforth  be  lovely  and  attractive; 
if  you  will  follow  my  advice  you  and  your  children  will 


AND  HIS  COURT.  209 

once  more  be  joyful  and  happy.  I  will  send  you  beauti- 
ful clothing,  and  I  know  an  adroit  person  who  will  make 
you  charmingly  attractive,  and  at  the  same  time  arrange 
your  toilet  with  such  enchanting  grace  that  you  will  pass 
for  the  '  Mater  dolorosa '  and  the  beautiful  Magdalen  in 
the  same  person.  Then  will  I  lead  you  to  the  king;  then 
will  he  read  in  your  lovely  and  noble  face  the  touching 
and  innocent  story  of  his  first  love;  it  will  then  rest  with 
you,  who  have  so  long  been  covered  with  dust  and  ashes, 
to  kindle  again  the  spark  of  your  dead  love,  and  find  in  his 
tenderness  the  reward  and  compensation  for  all  the  bitter 
past." 

She  looked  at  him  with  flaming  eyes,  and  her  glance 
was  so  piercing  that  even  Pöllnitz  felt  a  little  embar- 
rassed, and  involuntarily  cast  his  eyes  to  the  ground. 

"  Has  the  king  sent  you  here  with  this  message  ? " 

"  No,  not  the  king ;  but  I  know  that  he  thinks  of  you 
with  love  and  pity,  and  that  he  would  be  happy  to  find 
you.» 

"  If  that  is  so,  let  him  come  to  seek  me.  I  will  not  go 
to  him — I  am  the  injured  and  dishonored  one;  it  is  his 
duty  to  repair  my  wrongs.  But  he  will  not  come — ^I 
know  it.  I  read  it  to-day  in  his  face.  The  world  has 
killed  his  heart;  it  has  turned  to  stone  in  his  breast — a 
gravestone  for  his  dear-loved  Katt.  and  for  Dorris 
Eitter." 

"  He  will  come ;  I  say  to  you  he  will !  Hear  me, 
Dorris;  you  will  not  go  to  him?  Well,  then,  expect  him 
here,  and  prepare  yourself  in  such  a  way  to  receive  him 
as  to  make  an  impression  upon  his  heart ;  study  carefully 
your  part ;  revolve  every  word  which  you  will  say  to  him ; 
consider  every  glance  with  which  you  will  look  upon  him; 
put  on  the  clothes  which  I  will  send  you,  and  banish  your 
husband  and  your  children." 

"  My  children !  "  cried  she,  trembling ;  "  no,  no,  only 
as  a  mother — only  under  the  protection  of  their  innocent 


210  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

presence  will  I  ever  see  him;  only  for  my  children 
will  I  receive  his  sympathy  and  grace." 

PöUnitz  stamped  involuntarily  with  his  feet  upon  the 
floor,  and  muttered  curses  from  between  his  tightly- 
pressed  lips. 

"  Do  you  not  understand  that  our  whole  scheme  will 
fail  unless  you  do  exactly  as  I  tell  you;  that  you  will 
attain  nothing  unless  you  begin  wisely  and  prudently? 
You  say  the  king  has  no  heart;  well,  then,  he  has  intel- 
lect, and  this  you  must  flatter;  through  this  you  may, 
perhaps,  warm  his  stony  heart;  you  must  not  trust  wholly 
to  the  majesty  of  your  misfortunes,  but  advance  to  meet 
him  in  the  grace  and  glory  of  your  beauty;  by  your  soft 
eyes  you  must  work  upon  his  heart;  not  with  your  tears, 
but  by  enchanting  smiles,  he  may  be  won," 

She  looked  at  him  with  proud  and  contemptuous 
glances. 

"  Go ! "  said  she ;  "  go !  we  have  nothing  to  do  with 
each  other.  I  would  curse  you  and  seek  to  revenge  my- 
self upon  you  for  the  new  dishonor  which  you  have  put 
upon  me  by  your  shameless  words,  but  I  know  I  have 
not  the  right  to  resent.  I  am  a  degraded,  dishonored 
woman,  and  all  men  believe  they  have  the  right  to  insult 
me  and  to  mock  at  my  misfortunes.     Go !  " 

"  You  command  me,  then,  to  leave  you ;  you  will  not 
heed  the  voice  of  a  well-meaning  friend;  you " 

"  Baron  Pöllnitz,"  said  she,  with  a  voice  tremulous 
with  scorn,  "  I  say  go !  drive  me  not  to  extremity.  Shall 
I  call  upon  the  neighbors  to  relieve  me  from  the  presence 
of  one  I  abhor,  who  disregards  the  sanctity  of  my  poor 
house,  and  abuses  and  sneers  at  a  woman  who  hates  him? 
Go,  and  let  me  never  see  your  face  or  hear  your  voice 
again !  " 

"  Well,  then,  I  will  go ;  farewell,  dear  Madame 
Schömmer ;  but  I  will  come  again,  and  perhaps  I  may  be 
60  happy  as  to  find  in  your  place  the  enchanting  Dorris 


AND  HIS  COURT.  211 

Eitter,  that  sentimental  young  maiden  of  the  past,  who 
loved  the  crown  prince  so  passionately,  and  was  so  well 
pleased  to  receive  his  love  and  his  presents." 

He  laughed  aloud,  and  left  the  dreary  room  with  a 
courtly  pirouette;  with  quick  steps  he  hastened  through 
the  shop,  and  opening  the  door  which  led  into  the  street, 
he  kicked  the  two  children  who  were  sitting  on  the  thresh- 
old to  one  side,  and  rushed  into  the  street, 

"  She  is  truly  proud  yet,"  murmured  he,  shrugging  his 
shoulders.  "  The  hangman's  whip  did  not  humble  her — 
that  pleases  me;  and  I  am  more  than  ever  convinced  we 
will  succeed  with  her;  she  must  and  shall  be  beloved  of 
the  king;  and  as  she  will  not  go  to  him,  well,  then,  I  will 
bring  him  to  her.  To-morrow  the  king  will  visit  the  site 
chosen  for  the  palace  of  the  queen-mother:  that  will  be 
a  glorious  opportunity  to  induce  him  to  enter  her  hut." 

Dorris  Hitter  had  risen,  and  with  uplifted  arm  and  a 
proud  glance  she  had  followed  Pöllnitz.  Her  whole  be- 
ing was  in  feverish  excitement.  In  this  hour  she  was  no 
more  a  poor,  disheartened  woman,  from  whom  all  turned 
away  with  contempt,  but  a  proud  wife  conscious  of  her 
honor  and  her  worth,  who  commanded  her  persecutor 
from  her  presence;  who  asked  no  mercy  or  grace,  and  de- 
manded a  recognition  of  her  purity. 

As  the  steps  of  the  baron  faded  away,  and  Dorris  was 
again  alone,  her  feverish  excitement  subsided,  and  she 
was  again  a  poor,  pallid,  trembling,  humble  woman. 
With  a  cry  of  the  most  profound  woe  she  sank  back  in  her 
chair,  and  stared  long  before  her.  Suddenly  she  mur- 
mured from  between  her  tightly-compressed  lips :  "  Woe 
to  him!  woe  to  him!  when  he  forgets  what  I  have  suf- 
fered for  him;  woe  to  him,  if  he  does  not  remove  the 
shame  which  crushes  me !  woe  to  him,  if  he  despises  me  as 
others  do !  Then  will  Dorris  Ritter  be  his  irreconcilable 
enemy,  and  she  will  take  vengeance  so  true  as  there  is 
a  God  over  us  I  " 


212  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

CHAPTEE   XI. 

THE  PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE. 

"Courage,  my  dear  friend,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt 
to  Count  Voss,  who  stood  before  her  with  the  most  mourn- 
ful expression,  and  seemed  so  lost  in  grief  as  to  be 
scarcely  aware  of  the  presence  of  his  charming  and  be- 
witching Armida. 

"  I  do  not  understand  how  you  can  laugh  and  be  gay, 
if  you  love  me,"  he  said,  sadly. 

"  I  love  you  truly,  and  therefore  I  am  gay.  We  have 
almost  gained  our  end;  soon  the  suspicions  of  the  world 
will  be  lulled,  for  who  would  dream  that  the  husband  of 
the  young  and  beautiful  Laura  von  Pannewitz  could  pos- 
sibly love  the  old  and  ugly  Madame  von  Brandt  ? " 

"  You  old !  you  ugly !  "  cried  the  young  count,  indig- 
nantly. "  It  is  well  that  it  is  you  who  utter  such  a  blas- 
phemy; if  any  other  did,  I  should  destroy  him." 

"  You  would  do  very  wrong,  dear  count,  for  that 
would  betray  our  love  to  the  -.orld.  No,  no,  if  any  one 
should  speak  so  to  you,  you  must  shrug  your  shoul- 
ders, and  say,  '  I  am  not  acquainted  with  Madame  von 
Brandt,  I  am  indifferent  whether  she  is  handsome  or 
ugly.  She  may  be  as  old  as  Methuselah,  it  does  not  con- 
cern me." 

"ISTever  will  I  say  that,  never  will  I  be  induced  to 
utter  so  miserable  and  dishonorable  a  falsehood.  No, 
dearest,  you  cannot  demand  that.  You  see  your  power 
over  me,  and  treat  me  most  cruelly.  You  condemned  me 
to  be  married,  and  I  have  obeyed  your  commands,  al- 
though my  heart  was  breaking  as  I  made  my  proposal  to 
the  queen.  Now  I  entreat  that  you  will  not  torture  me 
by  demanding  that  I  shall  revile  and  caluminate  jon, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  213 

"No,  no,  I  pray  on  my  knees  that  you  will  be  kind  and 
merciful !  " 

He  threw  himself  on  his  knees  before  her,  leaning  his 
head  upon  the  divan  on  which  she  was  sitting. 

She  placed  her  hand  upon  his  head  and  played  with 
his  fair  hair.  "  I  am  not  cruel,  I  am  only  cautious,"  she 
whispered,  almost  tenderly.  "  Trust  me,  Alexander,  you 
must  not  doubt  my  boundless  love." 

"  No,  no,  you  do  not  love  me,"  he  sighed ;  "  you  are 
always  hard  and  cruel,  you  have  never  granted  me  the 
smallest  favor,  you  have  never  accepted  one  of  my  pres- 
ents." 

A  slight  but  scornful  smile  played  upon  the  lips  of 
this  beautiful  woman,  while  the  enthusiastic  and  impas- 
sioned young  man  spake  thus.  She  turned  aside  her  face, 
that  he  might  not  see  its  expression. 

But  he  thought  she  was  again  angry  with  him.  "  Ah," 
he  said,  despairingly,  "  you  will  not  allow  me  even  to  be- 
hold your  heavenly  countenance;  do  you  wish  to  drive 
me  to  distraction  ?  What  have  I  done  to  deserve  this  new 
torture?  Are  you  so  offended  because  I  entreated  you  to 
accept  a  gift  from  me?  Oh,  it  is  so  sweet  to  compel  the 
one  we  love  to  think  of  us;  to  place  a  ring  upon  her 
finger,  and  bid  her  dream  of  him  who  loves  her  when  she 
looks  upon  it;  to  bind  a  chain  upon  her  neck,  and  whis- 
per, *  You  are  fettered,  my  love  enchains  you,  you  are 
mine ! '  A  man  can  only  believe  in  the  affection  of  his 
beloved  when  she  condescends  to  accept  something  from 
him." 

"  And  would  that  give  you  faith  in  my  love  ? "  she 
said,  in  a  tender,  melting  voice,  as  she  turned  smilingly 
toward  him. 

"  Yes !  "  he  exclaimed,  "  it  would  increase  my  faith." 

"  Well,  then,  give  me  some  little  thing  that  will  remind 
me  of  you,  that  I  can  wear,  as  the  spaniel  wears  the 
collar  which  bears  the  name  of  its  master." 

MuHLBACH  10  Vol.  1 


214  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

She  offered  him  her  hand,  which  he  covered  with  fer- 
vent kisses,  and  then  drew  from  his  bosom  a  large  and 
heavy  etui,  which  he  placed  in  her  hands. 

"  But  this  contains  not  merely  a  ring,"  she  said,  re- 
proachfully ;  "  you  have  deceived  me,  misused  my  kind- 
ness; instead  of  presenting  me  with  a  small  souvenir, 
with  the  pride  of  a  king  you  wish  to  overwhelm  me  with 
your  rich  gifts.  Take  back  your  case,  count,  I  will  not 
look  at  its  contents;  I  will  not  behold  how  far  your  ex- 
travagance and  pride  have  led  you;  take  your  treasures, 
and  give  me  the  simple  ring  that  I  promised  to  accept." 
She  stood  up,  and  handed  him  the  etui  with  the  air  of  an 
insulted  queen,  without  once  glancing  at  its  contents,  and 
only  divining  their  value  by  the  size  and  weight  of  the 
case. 

Her  poor  lover  regarded  her  with  a  truly  despairing 
expression.  "  If  you  desire  to  destroy  me,  do  it  quickly 
and  at  once,  not  slowly,  day  by  day,  and  hour  by  hour," 
he  said,  almost  weeping.  "  I  fulfil  your  smallest  desire, 
I  marry  at  your  command,  and  you  refuse  to  show  me 
the  slightest  kindness."  He  was  now  really  weeping,  and 
turned  aside  that  she  might  not  behold  his  tears.  Then 
suddenly  recovering  himself,  he  said  with  the  boldness  of 
despair :  "  I  will  learn  from  you  the  use  of  the  word  no. 
If  you  refuse  to  accept  this  case,  then  I  will  refuse  to 
marry  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz.  If  you  compel  me 
to  receive  again  those  miserable  stones,  I  will  go  at  once 
to  the  queen,  and  tell  her  that  I  was  mistaken,  that  I  can- 
not and  will  not  marry  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz; 
that  I  have  given  up  my  plan,  and  am  determined  to  leave 
Berlin  immediately." 

"  No !  no !  you  must  not  go !  you  shall  not  leave  me !  " 
she  cried,  with  every  appearance  of  terror ;  "  give  me  the 
case,  I  will  accept  it.     You  must  not  leave  Berlin !  " 

The  young  count  uttered  a  cry  of  delight,  and  hurried 
to  her  side. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  215 

"  I  will  accept  this  eifwi,"  she  said  smiling,  "  but  will 
not  open  it  while  we  are  together,  for  fear  we  might  again 
disagree." 

Count  Voss  was  beside  himself  with  joy  and  gratitude, 
and  vowed  he  would  marry  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz 
that  very  day,  to  obtain  the  kiss  which  Madame  von 
Brandt  had  promised  him  at  his  wedding. 

"  Love  might  perhaps  remove  mountains,"  she  said, 
"  but  it  cannot  give  wings  to  the  tongue  of  a  queen. 
You  have  placed  your  proposals  in  the  hands  of  her  maj- 
esty, you  selected  this  lofty  lady  to  sue  for  you,  and 
now  you  must  wait  until  it  pleases  her  to  make  your  pro- 
posals known  to  the  lady." 

"  The  queen  promised  to  do  that  to-day.  It  was  neces- 
sary for  me  to  make  my  proposals  to  her,  for  the  family 
of  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz  demanded  that  I  should 
obtain  the  consent  of  the  queen  to  my  marriage  before  I 
could  hope  for  theirs." 

"  And  Laura,  have  you  obtained  her  consent  ?  " 

"  Oh,"  said  the  vain  count,  shrugging  his  shoulders, 
"  I  am  certain  of  that ;  she  is  poor  and  entirely  dependent 
on  the  proud  dowager-queen;  I  will  make  her  a  countess, 
and  insure  her  freedom;  she  will  live  independently  upon 
her  estates,  and  be  surrounded  with  wealth  and  luxury; 
she  will  have  every  thing  but  a  husband." 

"  Poor  Laura ! "  said  Madame  von  Brandt,  softly. 
"  But  you  have  been  with  me  already  too  long ;  it  might 
be  remarked,  and  give  rise  to  suspicion;  go,  now,  I  will 
work  for  you,  and  you  must  work  for  yourself.  Let  no 
difficulties  frighten  you." 

The  count  left  her  slowly,  while  Madame  von  Brandt 
was  scarcely  able  to  conceal  her  impatience  to  be  alone. 
She  looked  after  him  with  a  contemptuous  smile,  and 
murmured  to  herself :  "  Vain  fool,  he  deserves  to  be  de- 
ceived. But  now  at  last  I  will  see  what  this  precious  etui 
contains."     She  flew  to  the  table  and  hastily  lifted  the 


216  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

cover  of  the  case.  A  cry  of  astonishment  arose  to  her 
lips,  and  her  eyes  beamed  as  clearly  and  brightly  as  the 
diamonds  resting  upon  the  satin  cushion  within.  "  Ah ! 
this  is  really  a  royal  present,"  she  whispered,  breathlessly, 
"  more  than  royal,  for  I  am  confident  King  Frederick 
would  never  present  any  woman  with  such  diamonds; 
but  I  deserve  them  for  my  wonderful  acting.  This  poor 
count  is  convinced  that  I  am  the  noblest,  most  unselfish, 
and  most  loving  of  women.  How  well  conceived,  how 
wise  it  was  to  decline  his  first  gift !  I  knew  that  he  would 
replace  it  with  something  more  costly  and  elegant,  hoping 
to  move  me  to  change  my  resolution.  How  my  heart 
bounded  with  delight  when  he  drew  forth  this  great  case ! 
I  could  scarcely  withhold  my  hands  from  grasping  the 
costly  treasure.  I  concealed  my  impatience,  and  would 
not  open  the  case  in  his  presence,  fearful  that  he  might 
read  my  delight  in  my  eyes,  and  that  might  have  unde- 
ceived the  poor  fool  as  to  my  disinterestedness.  Truly  it 
was  very  wise  and  very  diplomatic  in  me ;  even  Manteuffel 
could  not  have  acted  more  discreetly."  She  bent  again 
over  the  flashing  diamonds,  and  pressed  her  burning  lips 
to  the  cold  stones.  "  Beautiful  stones,"  she  whispered 
tenderly,  "  your  cold  kiss  animates  my  whole  frame ;  I 
love  you  more  than  any  human  being,  and  when  you  are 
upon  my  neck  I  will  desire  no  warmer  embrace.  Wel- 
come, then,  beloved,  to  my  house  and  my  bosom.  You 
shall  be  well  cared  for,  I  shall  exert  myself  to  provide  you 
with  worthy  companions;  many  of  your  family  are  lying 
loosely  about  in  the  world,  and  you  doubtless  desire  the 
company  of  your  brothers  and  sisters.  I  myself  share 
that  desire,  and  will  seek  to  accomplish  it  by  bringing 
together  more  and  more  of  your  relations;  I  will  invite 
your  cousins,  the  pearls,  and  you  shall  be  united.  My 
diamonds  and  pearls  shall  have  a  gayer  and  more  splendid 
wedding  than  Count  Voss  and  beautiful  Laura  von  Pan- 
newitz."    She  laughed  aloud  in  the  joy  of  her  heart,  then 


AND  HIS  COURT.  217 

closed  the  case  and  locked  it  carefully  in  her  writing- 
desk.  "  And  now  to  the  queen-mother,"  she  said ;  "  the 
train  is  laid,  it  is  only  necessary  to  apply  the  match  and 
await  the  explosion.  I  must  point  out  to  the  queen  that 
this  marriage  of  the  lovely  Laura  with  Count  Voss  is 
necessary  to  prevent  a  difficulty  in  the  royal  family,  I 
must — eh  Men!  nous  verrons.  I  hear  the  voice  of  the 
queen;  she  is  taking  her  promenade,  and  I  must  not  fail 
to  be  present."  She  took  her  hat  and  shawl,  and  hurried 
to  the  garden. 


CHAPTEE   XII. 

THE  QUEEN  AS  A  MATRIMONIAL  AGENT. 

The  queen-mother  was  taking  a  walk  in  the  garden  of 
Monbijou.  She  was  unusually  gay  to-day,  and  her 
countenance  wore  an  expression  of  happiness  to  which  it 
had  long  been  a  stranger.  And  the  queen  had  good  rea- 
son to  be  gay,  for  she  seemed  on  the  point  of  realizing  the 
proud  anticipations  she  had  indulged  in  for  so  many 
weary  years.  Her  son  was  carrying  into  execution  the 
promises  which  he  had  made  on  his  first  visit,  and  in 
which  she  had  hardly  dared  to  believe.  She  had  already 
received  the  first  monthly  payment  of  her  income  as 
queen-dowager,  which  her  son  had  largely  increased. 
New  appointments  had  been  made  to  her  court,  and  it 
had  been  placed  on  a  truly  royal  footing;  and  yesterday 
the  king  had  told  her  that  he  had  already  chosen  a  site 
for  her  new  palace.  Moreover,  the  homage  she  received 
from  the  entire  court,  and  more  especially  from  the  king's 
favorites,  bore  evidence  to  the  fact  that  her  influence  was 
considered  great,  and  that  much  importance  was  attached 
to   her   grace   and   favor.     While    Queen   Elizabeth   was 


218  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

passing  her  time  joylessly  at  the  Castle  of  Schönhauser!, 
to  which  she  had  retired,  the  entire  court  was  assembling 
at  Monbijou,  and  hastening  to  do  homage  to  the  queen- 
mother.  Even  the  young  king,  who  had  not  yet  paid  a 
single  visit  to  his  wife  at  Schönhausen,  waited  on  the 
queen  his  mother  daily,  accompanied  by  a  brilliant  suite 
of  cavaliers.* 

The  queen  Sophia  Dorothea  had  good  reason  to  be 
gay,  and  to  entertain  the  happiest  anticipations  in  regard 
to  the  future.  To-day  for  the  first  time  she  could  take 
her  morning  walk  attended  by  her  brilliant  suite,  for  the 
last  appointments  had  only  been  made  on  the  preceding 
day.  When  the  queen  now  looked  around,  and  she  did  so 
from  time  to  time,  she  no  longer  saw  the  two  maids  of 
honor  of  earlier  days  walking  languidly  behind  her.  Six 
of  the  most  beautiful  ladies,  all  of  the  first  nobility,  had 
been  appointed  to  the  queen's  service,  and  were  now  en- 
gaged in  a  merry  conversation  with  the  four  cavaliers  in 
attendance  on  the  queen,  who  had  been  selected  for  this 
ofiice  by  the  king  himself.  While  conversing  with  her 
marshal.  Count  Rhedern,  she  could  hear  the  merry  laugh- 
ter of  the  newly-appointed  maid  of  honor  Louise  von 
Schwerin,  and  the  soft,  melodious  voice  of  the  beautiful 
Laura  von  Pannewitz,  whose  grace  and  loveliness  had 
even  excited  the  admiration  of  her  husband  the  king,  and 
for  a  few  weeks  thrown  him  into  a  state  to  which  he  was 
entirely  unaccustomed,  t 

The  queen,  as  we  have  said,  was  unusually  gay,  for 
she  had  just  received  a  new  proof  of  her  own  importance, 
and  of  the  influence  she  was  supposed  to  exert  on  the 
young  king  her  son. 

Count  Rhedern  had  solicited  the  assistance  of  the 
queen-mother  in  a  very  delicate  and  important  matter, 
and  had  requested  her  to  advocate  his  cause  with  King 

*  Thiebault,  ii.,  pag^o  84. 

t  M4moire8  de  Frederique  Wilhelmine  de  Baireuth,  vol.  li.,  p.  308.  . 


AND  HIS  COURT.  219 

Frederick.  The  count  desired  to  marry,  but  th©  permis- 
sion of  the  king  was  still  wanting,  and  would  probably 
be  very  difficult  to  obtain,  for  the  count's  chosen  was  un- 
fortunately not  of  a  noble  family,  but  had  the  misfortune 
to  be  the  daughter  of  a  Berlin  merchant. 

"  But,"  said  the  queen,  after  this  confidential  com- 
munication, "  I  do  not  understand  why  it  is  that  you  wish 
to  marry  this  girl.  I  should  think  the  nobility  of  our 
kingdom  was  not  so  poor  in  beautiful  and  marriageable 
ladies  that  a  Count  Rhedern  should  find  it  necessary  to 
stoop  so  low  in  search  of  a  wife.  Look  behind  you,  count, 
and  you  will  see  the  loveliest  ladies,  all  of  whom  are  of 
pure  and  unblemished  descent." 

"  True,  your  majesty.  These  ladies  are  beautiful,  of 
good  birth,  young  and  amiable,  but  one  thing  is  wanting 
to  make  them  perfect.  Mademoiselle  Orguelin  is  neither 
beautiful  nor  of  good  birth,  neither  young  nor  amiable, 
but  she  has  the  one  thing  which  those  fairies  lack,  and  for 
the  sake  of  this  one  thing  I  am  forced  to  marry  her." 

"  Count,  you  speak  in  riddles,  and  as  it  seems  to  me 
in  riddles  of  doubtful  propriety,"  said  the  queen,  almost 
angrily.  "  What  is  this  one  thing  which  Mademoiselle 
Orguelin  has,  and  on  account  of  which  you  are  compelled 
to  marry  her  ?  " 

"  Your  majesty,  this  one  thing  is  money." 

"  Ah,  money,"  said  the  queen,  smiling;  "  really,  it  well 
becomes  a  cavalier  to  marry  beneath  him  for  the  sake  of 
money !  " 

"  Your  majesty,  it  is  because  I  am  mindful  of  the 
duties  which  my  rank  impose  on  me,  and  of  the  demands 
which  a  cavalier  of  my  standing  should  meet,  that  I  have 
determined  to  make  this  misalliance.  Your  majesty  will 
be  indulgent  if  I  dare  open  before  you  the  skeleton  closet, 
and  unveil  the  concealed  misery  of  my  house.  The 
Counts  Rhedern  are  an  old  and  illustrious  race.  My 
ancestors  were  always  rich  in  virtues  but  poor  in  gold. 


220  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

Economy  seems  to  have  been  the  one  virtue  they  ever  pos- 
sessed; they  were  too  generous  to  reject  any  appeal 
made  to  them,  and  too  proud  to  limit  their  expenditures 
to  their  small  income.  Outwardly  they  maintained  the 
pomp  suitable  to  their  standing,  while  they  gnawed  se- 
cretly and  unseen  at  the  hard  crust  of  want.  Thus  from 
father  to  son  the  debts  were  constantly  increasing,  and 
the  revenues  becoming  smaller  and  smaller.  If  I  do  not 
make  an  end  of  this,  and  sever  the  Gordian  knot  like 
Alexander,  instead  of  attempting  the  wearisome  task  of 
untying  it,  I  shall  soon  present  to  the  court  and  nobility 
the  sad  spectacle  of  a  Count  Rhedern  who  is  compelled  to 
give  up  his  hotel,  his  equipage,  his  furniture,  and  his 
servants,  and  live  like  a  beggar." 

"  Ah,  this  is  really  a  sad  and  pressing  affair !  "  ex- 
claimed the  queen,  sympathizingly,  "  but  are  there  no 
heiresses  among  the  nobility,  whose  fortunes  might  save 
you?" 

"  None,  your  majesty,  who  like  MademoiseHe  Orguelin 
would  bring  me  a  fortune  of  three  millions." 

"  Three  millions !  That  is  a  great  deal,  and  I  can 
now  perfectly  well  understand  why  you  are  compelled 
to  marry  this  Orguelin.  You  have  my  consent,  and  I 
think  I  can  safely  promise  you  that  of  my  son  the  king. 
Make  your  arrangements  and  fear  nothing.  I  guarantee 
that  the  king  will  not  refuse  your  request." 

"  After  what  your  majesty  has  said,  I  feel  assured  on 
this  point,"  exclaimed  Count  Rhedern,  with  a  sigh. 

"How,  and  you  still  sigh,  count?" 

"Your  majesty,  I  need  the  permission  of  one  other 
person — the  acceptance  of  the  bride.  And  to  this 
acceptance  is  appended  a  condition,  the  fulfilment  of 
which  again  depends  upon  your  majesty's  kindness." 

"  Well,  truly,  this  is  a  strange  state  of  affairs.  You 
speak  gravely  of  your  approaching  marriage,  and  as  yet 
are  not  even  engaged.     You   speak   of  your  bride,   but 


AND  HIS  COURT.  22\ 

Mademoiselle  Orguelin  has  not  yet  accepted  you,  and 
whether  she  will  or  not,  you  say,  depends  on  me." 

"  Yes,  on  your  majesty,  for  this  girl,  who  is  as  proud 
of  her  three  millions  as  if  it  were  the  oldest  and  most 
illustrious  pedigree,  consents  to  be  my  wife  only  on  the 
condition  that  she  is  acknowledged  at  court,  and  has  ac- 
cess, as  Countess  Rhedern,  to  all  court  festivities." 

"  Truly  this  is  a  great  pretension ! "  exclaimed  the 
queen,  angrily.  "  A  pedlar's  daughter  who  carries  arro- 
gance so  far  as  to  wish  to  appear  at  the  court  of  the  King 
of  Prussia!  This  can  never  be,  and  never  could  I  advo- 
cate such  an  innovation:  it  is  destructive,  and  only  cal- 
culated to  diminish  the  prestige  of  the  nobility,  and  to 
deprive  it  of  its  greatest  and  best  privilege — that  privilege 
which  entitles  it  alone  to  approach  royalty.  It  was  this 
view  which  prevented  me  from  receiving  the  so-called 
Count  Neal  at  my  court,  although  my  son  the  king  ad- 
mits him  to  his  presence,  and  desires  that  I  also  should 
recognize  this  count  of  his  creation.  But,  as  a  queen 
and  a  lady,  I  can  never  do  this.  There  must  be  a  ram- 
part between  royalty  and  the  low  and  common  world, 
and  a  pure  and  unblemished  nobility  alone  can  form  this 
rampart.  You  see,  therefore,  my  poor  count,  that  I  can- 
not accede  to  this  request." 

"  Have  compassion  on  me,  your  majesty.  If  your 
majesty  will  but  remember  that  I  am  ruined;  but  I  am  a 
beggar  if  this  union  does  not  take  place,  if  I  do  not  marry 
the  three  millions  of  Mademoiselle  Orguelin." 

"  Ah,  certainly,  I  had  forgotten  that,"  said  the  queen, 
thoughtfully. 

"  Moreover,"  continued  the  count,  somewhat  en- 
couraged, "this  is  a  different  affair  altogether,  and  I  do 
not  believe  that  a  principle  is  here  at  stake,  as  was  the 
case  with  the  so-called  Count  ISTeal.  A  man  represents 
himself  and  his  house,  and  no  power  on  earth  can  give 
him  better  or  nobler  blood  than  already  flows  in  his  veins. 


222  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

But  with  a  woman  it  is  different.  She  receives  her  hus- 
band's name  and  his  rank ;  she  becomes  blood  of  his  blood, 
and  can  in  no  manner  affect  his  nobility.  The  sons  of 
Countess  Rhedern  will  still  be  the  Counts  Rhedern,  al- 
though the  mother  is  not  of  noble  birth." 

"  True,"  said  the  queen,  "  this  case  is  different  from 
that  of  the  adventurer  Neal.  The  rank  of  her  husband 
would  be  sufficient  to  permit  us  to  draw  a  veil  over  the 
obscure  birth  of  this  new-made  countess." 

"  And  your  majesty  would  then  be  the  noble  protec- 
trice  of  our  family,"  said  the  count,  in  a  sweet  and  in- 
sinuating tone ;  "  your  majesty  would  not  only  restore  my 
house  to  its  ancient  prestige,  but  you  would  retain  the 
three  millions  of  Mademoiselle  Orguelin  in  Prussia;  for 
if  I  should  not  be  able  to  fulfil  the  condition  which  this 
lady  has  made.  Mademoiselle  Orguelin  will  marry  a  rich 
young  Hollander,  who  is  the  commercial  friend  of  her 
father,  and  has  come  here  for  the  especial  purpose  of  su- 
ing for  the  hand  of  his  daughter." 

"  Ah,  if  that  is  the  case,  it  becomes  almost  a  duty  to 
give  you  this  girl,  in  order  to  prevent  her  millions  from 
leaving  the  country,"  said  the  queen,  smiling.  "  Be  hope- 
ful, count,  your  wish  will  be  granted,  and  this  little  mil- 
lionnaire,  who  longs  to  appear  at  court,  shall  have  her 
desire.  I  will  speak  with  my  son  on  this  subject  to-day; 
and  you  may  take  it  for  granted  that  your  request  will 
meet  with  a  favorable  response." 

And  the  queen,  who  was  proud  and  happy  to  have  an 
opportunity  of  showing  the  count  how  great  was  her  in- 
fluence with  her  royal  son,  graciously  permitted  him  to 
kiss  her  hand,  and  listened  well  pleased  to  his  exclama- 
tions of  gratitude  and  devotion. 

She  then  dismissed  him  with  a  gracious  inclination  of 
her  head,  requesting  him  to  inform  Madame  von  Brandt, 
whose  laughing  voice  could  be  heard  at  a  short  distance, 
that  she  desired  to  see  her. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  223 

While  the  count  hurried  off  to  execute  the  commission 
of  his  royal  mistress,  the  queen  walked  on  slowly  and 
thoughtfully.  Now  that  she  was  permitted  to  be  a  queen, 
her  woman's  nature  again  made  itself  felt;  she  found  it 
quite  amusing  to  have  a  hand  in  the  love  affairs  which 
were  going  on  around  her,  and  to  act  the  part  of  the  benefi- 
cent fairy  in  making  smooth  the  path  of  true  love.  Two, 
of  the  first  noblemen  of  her  court  had  to-day  solicited 
her  kind  offices  in  their  love  affairs,  and  both  demanded 
of  her  the  reestablishment  of  the  prosperity  and  splendor 
of  their  houses. 

The  queen,  as  before  said,  felt  flattered  by  these  de- 
mands, and  was  in  her  most  gracious  humor  when  Ma- 
dame von  Brandt  made  her  appearance.  Their  conversa- 
tion was  at  first  on  indifferent  subjects,  but  Madame  von 
Brandt  knew  very  well  why  the  queen  honored  her  with 
this  interview,  and  kept  the  match  in  readiness  to  fire  the 
train  with  which  she  had  undermined  the  happiness  and 
love  of  poor  Laura  von  Pannewitz. 

"  Do  you  know,"  asked  the  queen  suddenly,  "  that  we 
have  a  pair  of  lovers  at  my  court  ? " 

"  A  pair  of  lovers !  "  repeated  Madame  von  Brandt, 
and  so  apparent  was  the  alarm  and  astonishment  depicted 
in  her  countenance  that  the  queen  was  startled. 

"  Is  this,  then,  so  astonishing  ? "  asked  the  quesn, 
smiling.  "  You  express  so  much  alarm  that  one  might 
suppose  we  were  living  in  a  convent,  where  it  is  a  crime 
to  speak  of  love  and  marriage.  Or  were  you  only  a  little 
annoyed  at  not  having  heard  of  this  love  affair  ?  " 

"  You  majesty,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt,  "  I  knew 
all  about  this  affair,  but  had  no  idea  that  you  had  any 
knowledge  of  it." 

"  Certainly  you  must  have  known  it,  as  Mademoiselle 
von  Pannewitz  is  your  friend,  and  has  very  naturally 
made  you  her  confidant." 

"  Yes,  I  have  been  her  confidant  in  this  unhappy  and 


224  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

unfortunate  love,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt,  with  a  sigh; 
"  but  I  can  assure  your  majesty  that  I  have  left  no  argu- 
ments, no  prayers,  and  even  no  threats  untried  to  induce 
this  poor  young  girl  to  renounce  her  sad  and  unfortunate 
love." 

"Well,  you  might  have  saved  yourself  this  trouble," 
said  the  queen,  smiling ;  "  for  this  love  is  not,  as  you  say, 
a  sad  and  unfortunate  one,  but  a  happy  one!  Count 
Voss  came  to  me  this  morning  as  a  suitor  for  the  hand  of 
Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz." 

"  Poor,  unhappy  Laura ! "  sighed  Madame  von 
Brandt. 

"  How !  "  exclaimed  the  queen,  "  you  still  pity  her,  when 
I  assure  you  that  hers  is  not  an  unhappy,  but  a  happy 
love,  reciprocated  by  Count  Voss,  who  is  a  suitor  for  her 
hand?" 

"  But  what  has  Count  Voss  to  do  with  Laura's  love  ?  " 
asked  Madame  von  Brandt,  with  such  well-acted  astonish- 
ment that  the  unsuspecting  queen  might  very  well  be  de- 
ceived. 

"  Truly  this  is  a  strange  question,"  exclaimed  the 
queen.  "  You  have  just  told  me  that  Mademoiselle  von 
Pannewitz  entertains  an  unfortunate  attachment  for 
Count  Voss ;  and  when  I  inform  you  that  so  far  from 
hers  being  an  unfortunate  attachment,  it  is  returned  by 
Count  Voss,  who  is  at  this  moment  a  suitor  for  her  hand, 
you  ask,  with  an  air  of  astonishment,  *  What  has  Count 
Voss  to  do  with  Laura's  love  ? ' " 

"  Pardon  me,  your  majesty,  I  did  not  say  that  my 
poor  friend  loved  Count  Voss." 

"  How !  "  exclaimed  the  queen,  impatiently ;  "  it  is 
then  not  Count  Voss?  Pray,  who  has  inspired  her  with 
this  unfortunate  love?  Who  is  he?  Do  you  know  his 
name  ? " 

"  Your  majesty,  I  know  him ;  but  I  have  vowed  on  the 
Bible  never  to  mention  his  name." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  225 

"It  was  very  inconsiderate  in  you  to  make  such  a 
vow,"  exclaimed  the  queen,  impatiently. 

"  Your  majesty,  she  who  demanded  it  of  me  was  my 
friend,  and  in  view  of  her  sorrow  and  tears  I  could  not  re- 
fuse a  request  by  the  fulfilment  of  which  she  would  at 
least  have  the  sad  consolation  of  pouring  out  her  sorrow 
and  anguish  into  the  bosom  of  a  true  and  discreet  friend. 
But  the  very  friendship  I  entertain  for  her  makes  it  my 
bounden  duty  to  implore  your  majesty  to  sustain  the  offer 
of  Count  Voss  with  all  the  means  at  your  command,  and, 
if  necessary,  even  to  compel  my  poor  Laura  to  marry 
him." 

"  How !  You  say  she  loves  another,  and  still  desire 
that  I  should  compel  her  to  marry  Count  Voss  ? " 

"  Your  majesty,  there  is  no  other  means  of  averting 
evil  from  the  head  of  my  dear  Laura;  no  other  means  of 
preserving  two  noble  hearts  from  the  misery  their  unfor- 
tunate passions  might  produce.  Laura  is  a  noble  and 
virtuous  girl,  but  she  loves,  and  would  not  long  be  able 
to  withstand  the  passionate  entreaties  of  her  lover;  she 
would  hear  no  voice  but  that  of  him  she  loves." 

"  This  love  is  then  returned  ?  "  asked  the  queen. 

"  Oh,  your  majesty,  Laura's  maidenly  pride  would  pre- 
serve her  from  an  unreqiiited  love." 

"  And  still  you  call  this  love  an  unfortunate  one  ? " 

"  I  call  it  so  because  there  are  insurmountable  ob- 
stacles in  its  way;  an  abyss  lies  between  these  lovers, 
across  which  they  can  never  clasp  hands.  In  order  to  be 
united  they  would  have  to  precipitate  themselves  into  its 
depths!  Every  word  of  love  which  these  unfortunates 
utter  is  a  crime — is  high  treason." 

"  High  treason ! "  exclaimed  the  queen,  whose  eyes 
sparkled  with  anger.  "  Ah,  I  understand  you  now.  This 
proud,  arrogant  girl  raises  her  eyes  to  a  height  to  which  a 
princess  of  the  blood  alone  can  aspire.  In  her  presump- 
tion this  girl  thinks  to  play  the  role  of  a  La  Valliere  or  a 


226  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

Maintenon.  Yes,  I  now  comprehend  every  thing — her 
pallor,  her  sighs,  her  melancholy,  and  her  blushes,  when  I 
told  her  I  expected  the  king  and  his  court  here  to-day. 
Yes,  it  must  be  so.  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz  loves 
the " 

"  Your  majesty,"  exclaimed  Madame  von  Brandt,  im- 
ploringly, "  have  the  goodness  not  to  mention  the  name. 
I  should  have  to  deny  it,  and  that  would  be  an  offence  to 
your  majesty;  but  if  I  should  acknowledge  it,  I  would  be 
false  to  my  vow  and  my  friendship.  In  your  penetration, 
your  majesty  has  divined  what  I  hardly  dared  indicate, 
and  my  noble  queen  now  comprehends  why  an  early  mar- 
riage with  Count  Voss  would  be  the  best  means  of  pre- 
serving the  happiness  of  two  noble  hearts." 

"  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz  will  have  to  make  up 
her  mind  to  become  the  bride  of  Count  Voss  within  the 
hour !  "  exclaimed  the  queen,  imperiously.  "  Woe  to  her 
if  in  her  arrogance  she  should  refuse  to  give  up  a  love 
against  which  the  whole  force  of  my  royal  authority  shall 
be  brought  to  bear." 

"  May  your  majesty  follow  the  suggestions  of  your 
wisdom  in  all  things!  I  only  request  that  your  majesty 
will  graciously  conceal  from  poor  Laura  that  you  dis- 
covered her  unhappy  secret  through  me." 

"  I  promise  you  that,"  said  the  queen,  who,  forgetful 
of  her  royal  dignity,  in  her  angry  impatience  turned 
around  and  advanced  hastily  toward  her  suite,  who,  on 
her  approach,  remained  standing  in  a  respectful  attitude. 

At  this  moment  a  lacquey,  dressed  in  the  royal  livery, 
was  seen  advancing  from  the  palace;  he  approached  the 
maid  of  honor  then  on  duty.  Mademoiselle  von  Panne- 
witz,  and  whispered  a  few  words  in  her  ear. 

Hurrying  forward,  this  young  lady  informed  the 
queen  that  her  majesty  the  reigning  queen  had  just  ar- 
rived, and  desired  to  know  if  her  majesty  would  receive 
her.    The  queen  did  not  reply  immediately.     She  looked 


AND  HIS  COURT.  227 

scornfully  at  the  young  girl  who  stood  before  her,  hum- 
bly and  submissively,  with  downcast  eyes,  and  although 
she  did  not  look  up  at  the  queen,  she  seemed  to  feel  her 
withering  and  scornful  glances,  for  she  blushed  deeply, 
and  an  anxious  expression  was  depicted  on  her  counte- 
nance. 

The  queen  observed  that  the  blushing  Laura  was  won- 
derfully beautiful,  and  in  her  passionate  anger  could  have 
trodden  her  under  foot  for  this  presumptuous  and  trea- 
sonable beauty.  She  felt  that  it  was  impossible  longer  to 
remain  silent,  longer  to  defer  the  decision.  The  queen's 
anger  fairly  flamed  within  her,  and  threatened  to  break 
forth ;  she  was  now  a  passionate,  reckless  woman,  nothing 
more;  and  she  was  guided  by  her  passion  and  the  power 
of  her  angry  pride  alone. 

"  I  am  going  to  receive  her  majesty,"  said  Sophia 
Dorothea,  with  trembling  lips.  "  Her  majesty  has  pre- 
sented herself  unceremoniously,  and  I  shall  therefore  re- 
ceive her  without  ceremony.  All  of  you  will  remain  here 
except  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz,  who  will  accompany 


CHAPTER   Xin. 

PROPOSAL  OF  MARRIAGE. 

The  greeting  of  the  two  queens  was  over;  the  in- 
quiries of  politeness  and  etiquette  had  been  exchanged; 
Sophia  had  offered  Queen  Elizabeth  her  hand  and  con- 
ducted her  into  the  small  saloon,  where  she  was  in  the 
habit  of  receiving  her  family. 

The  door  leading  to  the  conservatory  was  open,  and 
the  two  maids  of  honor  could  be  seen  within,  standing 
with  Laura,  and  asking  questions  in  a  low  tone,  to  which 


228  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

she  replied  almost  inaudibly.  She  felt  that  the  decisive 
hour  of  her  destiny  was  at  hand,  and  she  prayed  that  God 
would  strengthen  her  for  the  coming  trial.  She  trembled 
not  for  herself,  but  for  her  lover;  for  his  dear  sake  she 
was  determined  to  bear  the  worst,  and  bravely  meet  the 
shock;  she  would  not  yield,  she  would  not  die,  for  he 
would  perish  with  her;  in  her  heart  of  hearts,  she  re- 
newed the  oath  of  eternal  love  and  eternal  faith  she  had 
taken,  and  nerved  herself  for  persecution  and  endurance. 
Suddenly  she  heard  the  harsh  voice  of  the  queen  calling 
her  name;  she  looked  up,  and  saw  her  standing  in  the 
door. 

"  I  beg  the  maids  of  honor  to  join  the  ladies  in  the 
garden;  you,  mademoiselle,  will  remain  here;  I  have  a 
few  words  to  say  to  you." 

The  ladies  bowed  and  left  the  conservatory.  Laura 
remained  alone;  she  stood  with  folded  hands  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  room ;  her  cheek  was  deadly  pale,  her  lips  trem- 
bled, but  her  eyes  were  bright,  and  filled  with  a  heroic 
and  dreamy  excitement.  As  Sophia  called  her  name, 
Laura  laid  her  hand  upon  her  heart,  as  if  to  suppress  its 
stormy  beating,  and  with  her  head  bowed  meekly  upon 
her  breast  she  advanced  submissively  at  the  call  of  her 
mistress.  At  the  door  of  the  second  saloon  she  remained 
standing,  and  awaited  the  further  commands  of  the 
queen.  As  Sophia  did  not  speak,  Laura  raised  her  eyes 
and  looked  timidly  at  the  two  queens,  who  were  seated  on 
a  sofa  opposite  the  door;  they  were  both  gazing  at  her, 
the  queen-mother  severely,  with  a  -proud  and  derisive 
smile,  but  Queen  Elizabeth  regarded  with  unutterable 
pity  this  poor  girl,  who  reminded  her  of  a  broken  lily. 

"  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz,"  said  Sophia,  after  a 
long  silence,  "  I  have  a  matter  of  great  importance  to 
conununicate  to  you,  and  as  it  admits  of  no  delay,  her 
majesty  has  allowed  me  to  speak  to  you  in  her  presence. 
Listen   attentively,   and  weigh  well   my  words.     I  have 


AND  HIS  COURT.  229 

treated  you  with  affectionate  kindness;  you  have  always 
found  in  me  a  friend  and  mother.  I  therefore  require 
of  you  unconditional  and  silent  obedience — an  obedience 
that  as  your  queen  and  mistress  I  have  a  right  to  demand. 
You  are  of  a  noble  but  poor  family,  and  your  parents 
cannot  support  you  in  the  style  suitable  to  your  birth.  I 
have  adopted  you,  and  will  now  establish  for  you  a  future 
which  will  be  both  splendid  and  happy.  A  rich  and  gal- 
lant cavalier  bas  proposed  for  your  hand,  and  as  it  is  a 
most  fitting  and  advantageous  offer,  I  have  accepted  it 
for  you,  and  promised  your  consent." 

The  queen  ceased  and  looked  piercingly  at  the  young 
girl,  who  was  still  leaning  against  the  door,  silent  and 
dejected.  This  dumb  submission,  this  weak  resignation 
revolted  the  queen;  instead  of  softening  her  anger,  she 
took  this  silence  for  defiance,  this  humility  for  stubborn- 
ness. 

"  You  are  not  at  all  anxious,  it  appears,  to  learn  the 
name  of  your  future  husband,"  she  said,  sharply ;  "  per- 
haps the  rapture  of  joy  binds  your  tongue,  and  prevents 
you  from  thanking  me  for  my  motherly  care." 

"  Pardon,  your  majesty,"  said  Laura,  raising  her  soft 
eyes  to  the  harsh  and  severe  countenance  of  the  queen; 
"  it  was  not  joy  that  closed  my  lips,  but  reverence  for 
your  majesty;  I  feel  no  joy." 

"  You  feel  no  joy !  "  cried  the  queen,  with  the  cruel 
rage  of  the  lion  who  seizes  his  prey  and  tears  it  in  pieces 
when  there  is  none  to  deliver.  "  Well,  then,  you  will 
marry  without  joy,  that  is  decided;  and  as  you  are  too 
far  above  all  womanly  weakness  to  appear  curious,  I  shall 
be  obliged  to  name  the  happy  man  whose  loving  bride  you 
are  soon  to  be,  that  you  make  no  mistakes,  and  perhaps, 
in  the  tenderness  of  your  heart,  render  another  than 
your  appointed  husband  happy  in  your  embraces." 
Laura  uttered  a  low  cry  of  anguish,  and  her  cheeks,  color- 
less until  now,  were  dyed  red  with  shame. 


230  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"Have  pity,  your  majesty,"  murmured  Elizabeth 
Christine,  laying  her  hand  softly  on  the  shoulder  of  the 
queen ;  "  see  how  the  poor  girl  suffers." 

Sophia  shrugged  her  shoulders  contemptuously. 
"  Nonsense !  do  we  not  all  suffer  ?  have  not  I  suffered  ? 
Is  there  a  woman  on  God's  earth  whose  heart  is  not  half 
melted  away  with  hot  and  unavailing  tears  ? " 

"  It  is  true,"  said  Elizabeth ;  "  we  have  but  one  ex- 
clusive privilege — to  weep  and  to  endure." 

The  queen-mother  turned  again  to  Laura,  who  had 
checked  her  tears,  but  was  still  standing  bowed  down,  and 
trembling  before  her. 

"  Well,"  said  Sophia,  "  it  still  does  not  suit  you  to  in- 
quire the  name  of  your  lover,  then  I  shall  name  him; 
mark  well  my  words :  it  is  Count  Voss  who  has  chosen 
you  for  his  wife,  and  to  him  alone  you  have  now  to  direct 
your  heart  and  your  tenderness." 

Laura  now  raised  her  eyes  and  fixed  them  steadily 
upon  this  cruel  mistress;  her  glance  was  no  longer  soft 
and  pleading,  but  determined.  The  imperious  manner 
of  the  queen,  instead  of  intimidating  the  pale  and  gentle 
girl,  awakened  her  to  the  consciousness  of  her  own  dig- 
nity. "  Majesty,"  she  said,  with  cool  decision,  "  love  is 
not  given  by  command,  it  cannot  be  bestowed  arbitrarily." 

"  By  that  you  mean  to  affirm  that  you  do  not  and  can- 
not love  Count  Voss,"  said  the  queen,  suppressing  her 
fury  with  difficulty. 

"Yes,  your  majesty,  I  do  not,  I  cannot  love  Count 
Voss." 

"  Well,  then,"  cried  Sophia,  "  you  will  marry  him 
without  love,  and  that  speedily !  " 

Laura  raised  her  head  passionately;  her  eye  met  the 
queen's,  but  this  time  not  humbly,  not  timidly,  but  deci- 
sively. From  this  moment,  Sophia  Dorothea  was  to  her 
no  longer  a  queen,  but  a  cruel,  unfeeling  woman,  who 
was  trampling  upon  her  soul  and  binding  it  in  chains. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  231 

"Pardon,  your  majesty,  as  I  have  said  that  I  do  not 
love  Count  Voss,  it  follows  of  course  that  I  will  never 
marry  him." 

The  queen  sprang  from  her  seat  as  if  bitten  by  a 
poisonous  reptile.  "  Not  marry  him ! "  she  shrieked ; 
"but  I  say  you  shall  marry  him!  yes,  if  you  have  to  be 
dragged  with  violence  to  the  altar !  " 

"  Then  at  the  altar  I  will  say  no !  "  cried  Laura  von 
Pannewitz,  raising  her  young  face,  beaming  with  courage 
and  enthusiasm,  toward  heaven. 

The  queen  uttered  a  wild  cry  and  sprang  forward;  the 
lion  was  about  to  seize  upon  its  prey  and  tear  it  to  pieces, 
but  Elizabeth  Christine  laid  her  hand  upon  the  raised 
arm  of  the  queen  and  held  her  back.  "  Majesty,"  she  said, 
"  what  would  you  do  ?  you  would  not  force  this  poor 
girl  to  marry  against  her  will;  she  does  not  love  Count 
Voss,  and  she  is  right  to  refuse  him." 

"Ha!  you  defend  her?"  cried  Sophia,  brought  to  ex- 
tremities by  the  resistance  of  the  queen ;  "  you  have  then 
no  presentiment  why  she  refuses  the  hand  of  Count  Voss ; 
you  do  not  comprehend  that  when  a  poor  dependent  maid 
of  honor  refuses  to  marry  a  rich  and  noble  cavalier,  it  is 
because  she  believes  she  has  secured  her  future  in  another 
direction — because  in  the  haughtiness  of  her  vain,  in- 
fatuated heart,  she  hopes  through  her  beauty  and  well- 
acted  coquetry  to  secure  for  herself  a  more  brilliant  lot. 
But,  mark  me !  however  charming  and  alluring  that  pros- 
pect may  appear  outwardly,  even  in  its  success  there 
would  be  found  nothing  but  infamy!  She  can  never 
have  the  madness  to  believe  that  any  priest  in  this  land 
would  dare  to  bind  with  the  blessings  of  the  Holy  Church 
a  love  so  boldly  impudent,  so  traitorous;  she  can  never 
hope  to  set  her  foot  where  only  the  lawful  wife  of  a  king 
can  stand — where  the  sister  of  the  king  of  England  has 
stood!  yes,  where  she  still  stands,  and  from  whence 
she  is  resolved  to  repulse  this  miserable  coquette,  who 


232  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

hopes  to  conquer  a  throne  through  her  shameless  allure- 
ments." 

Laura  uttered  a  piercing  scream,  and  with  hands 
raised  to  heaven,  she  exclaimed,  "  My  God !  my  God !  can 
I  bear  this  and  live  ?  " 

The  queen  broke  into  a  wild,  mocking  laugh.  Eliza- 
beth Christine  looked,  questioningly,  at  this  scene,  which 
she  did  not  comprehend,  but  which  touched  her  heart  by 
its  tragic  power. 

"  It  is  a  hard  and  cruel  accusation  which  your  majesty 
is  bringing  against  this  young  girl;  let  us  hope  that 
Laura  will  know  how  to  defend  herself." 

"  Defend  herself !  look  at  her !  look  how  my  words 
have  crushed  her!  how  her  proud,  aspiring  soul  is 
checked !  Believe  me,  Elizabeth,  she,  whom  you  so  gener- 
ously pity,  understands  my  words  better  than  your  maj- 
esty; and  she  knows  well  of  what  I  accuse  her;  but  you, 
my  daughter,  shall  know  also ;  you  have  a  right  to  know." 

"  Mercy !  your  majesty,  mercy !  "  cried  Laura,  falling 
upon  her  knees  and  raising  her  arms  pleadingly  toward 
the  queen ;  "  speak  no  more !  humble  me  no  further ! 
Do  not  betray  my  secret,  which  in  your  mouth  becomes  a 
denunciation !  Let  me  remain  even  on  the  brink  of  the 
precipice,  where  you  have  dragged  me!  that  is  appalling, 
but  cast  me  not  down !  So  low  and  dust-trodden  a  crea- 
ture is  no  longer  worthy  of  the  honor  of  approaching 
your  majesty,  I  see  that,  and  beg  humbly  for  my  dismis- 
sal, not  as  your  majesty  supposes,  to  lead  an  independent 
and  happy,  if  still  a  shameful  life,  but  to  flee  to  some 
corner  of  the  world,  where  alone  and  unseen  I  may  weep 
over  the  beautiful  and  innocent  dreams  of  my  life,  from 
which  your  majesty  has  awakened  me  so  cruelly." 

She  was  wonderfully  beautiful  in  this  position;  those 
raised  arms,  that  noble,  transparently  pale,  tear-stained 
countenance.  Sophia  Dorothea  saw  it,  and  it  made  her 
feel  more  bitter,  more  cruel. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  233 

"  Ah,  she  dares  to  reproach  me,"  she  cried,  contempt- 
uously ;  "  she  still  has  a  slight  consciousness  of  her  shame ; 
she  trembles  to  hear  what  she  did  not  tremble  to  do ! 
Listen,  my  daughter,  you  that  have  for  her  so  warm,  so 
pitiful  a  heart;  you  who,  when  I  have  spoken,  will  detest 
and  curse  her  as  I  do,  and  as  you  are  entitled  to  do. 
Believe  me,  Elizabeth,  I  know  all  your  suffering,  all  your 
sorrow;  I  know  the  secret  history  of  your  noble,  proud, 
and  silent  heart.  Ask  that  girl  there  of  your  grief  and 
misery;  ask  her  the  reason  of  your  lonely,  tearful  nights; 
demand  of  her  your  broken  happiness,  your  crushed 
hopes;  demand  of  her  your  husband's  love,  your  soul's 
peace.  Mademoiselle  von  Pannewitz  can  return  them  all 
to  you,  as  she  has  taken  them  from  you,  for  she  is  the 
mistress  of  the  king." 

"  Mistress  of  the  king !  "  said  Elizabeth,  with  a  pain- 
ful cry,  while  Laura  let  her  hands  glide  from  her  face, 
and  looked  at  the  queen  with  an  astonished  expression. 

"  Yes,"  repeated  Sophia  Dorothea,  whose  hot  blood 
rushed  so  violently  through  her  veins  that  her  voice  fal- 
tered, and  she  was  scarcely  able  to  retain  an  appearance 
of  self-control ;  "  yes,  she  is  the  mistress  of  the  king,  and 
therefore  refuses  to  marry  Count  Voss!  But  patience, 
patience,  she  shall  not  triumph!  and  if  she  dares  to  love 
my  son,  the  son  of  the  queen,  King  Frederick  of  Prussia, 
I  will  remind  her  of  Dorris  Ritter,  who  loved  him,  and 
was  beloved  by  him!  This  Dorris  was  flogged  through 
the  streets  of  Berlin,  and  east  out  from  amongst  men." 

Laura  uttered  so  loud  and  fearful  a  cry  that  even 
the  queen-mother  was  startled,  and  for  a  moment  touched 
with  pity  for  the  poor,  broken-hearted  girl  who  lay  at  her 
feet,  like  a  poor,  wounded  gazelle  in  the  convulsive  ago- 
nies of  death. 

But  she  would  not  give  way  to  this  pity;  would  not 
betray  a  weakness,  of  which  she  was  ashamed.  Taking 
the  hand  of  the  young  queen  and  casting  a  look  of  dis- 


234  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

dain  at  Laura,  she  said,  "  Come,  my  daughter,  we  will 
no  longer  bear  the  presence  of  this  person,  whose  tears, 
I  hope,  spring  from  repentance  and  acknowledgment  of 
her  offence;  may  she  obtain  our  pardon  by  resolving  to- 
day, of  her  own  free  will,  and  without  forcing  us  to 
harsher  measures,  to  accept  the  hand  of  Count  Voss; 
come,  my  daughter." 

The  two  queens  stepped  to  the  door.  Sophia  threw  it 
open  violently,  and  passed  immediately  into  the  boudoir, 
but  Elizabeth  did  not  follow  her.  She  looked  back  at  the 
poor  sobbing  girl  lying  upon  the  floor.  The  pale  and 
noble  face  touched  her  womanly  heart. 

"  Pardon,  your  majesty,  if  I  do  not  follow  imme- 
diately; I  should  like  to  say  a  few  words  to  Mademoi- 
selle von  Pannewitz ;  I  think  I  have  a  right  to  do  so." 

The  queen-mother  experienced  a  cruel  pleasure  at 
these  words. 

"  Oh,  my  daughter,  even  your  forbearance  is  exhaust- 
ed, and  you  feel  that  forgiveness  is  impossible ;  yes,  speak 
to  her,  and  let  her  feel  the  whole  weight  of  your  righteous 
indignation.  Words  of  reproach  and  accusation  from 
your  gentle  lips  will  have  a  crushing  power.  But  no  de- 
lay— you  know  the  king  will  soon  be  here." 

The  queen  closed  the  door.  She  wished  to  hear  noth- 
ing that  passed  between  Elizabeth  and  Laura ;  she  needed 
rest,  in  order  to  receive  the  king  with  composure. 


AND  HIS  COUET.  235 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE  MISUNDERSTANDING. 

The  young  queen,  the  reigning  queen,  as  she  was 
called,  was  now  alone  with  Laura  von  Pannewitz.  She 
was  for  a  moment  speechless;  strange,  tempestuous  feel- 
ings burned  in  the  bosom  of  this  gentle  woman;  she  felt 
all  the  torments  of  rage  and  jealousy,  and  the  humilia- 
tion of  unrequited  love. 

Leaning  against  the  wall,  she  looked  frowningly  at 
Laura,  who  was  kneeling  before  her,  wringing  her  hands 
and  weeping  piteously.  How  could  a  woman  weep  who 
could  call  that  happiness  her  own — to  possess  which  Eliza- 
beth would  cheerfully  give  years  of  her  life?  She  had  at 
last  found  the  rival  for  whom  she  was  despised;  the  de- 
stroyer of  her  happiness;  the  envied  woman  loved  by 
Frederick ! 

As  she  saw  this  woman  bathed  in  tears  at  her  feet,  an 
exulting  joy  for  one  moment  filled  her  heart.  But  this 
violent  emotion  soon  disappeared.  Elizabeth  was  too 
true  and  noble  a  woman  to  give  herself  up  long  to  such 
resentment.  She  felt,  indeed,  a  melancholy  pleasure  in 
knowing  that  it  was  not  coldness  of  heart,  but  love  for 
another,  which  estranged  the  king  from  her;  in  the  midst 
of  her  wild  grief  she  was  still  just;  and  she  acknowledged 
that  this  woman,  whom  the  king  loved,  was  more  charm- 
ing and  more  beautiful  than  herself. 

The  love  Elizabeth  bore  her  husband  was  so  unselfish, 
so  resigned,  so  magnanimous,  that  she  felt  grateful  to  the 
woman  who  could  impart  a  happiness  to  the  king  it  had 
never  been  in  her  power  to  bestow. 

With  a  truly  noble  expression  she  approached  the 
maid  of  honor,  who,  unconscious  of  the  queen's  presence, 
was  still  lying  on  the  floor  and  weeping  bitterly. 


236  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

**  Arise,  Laura,"  said  Elizabeth,  gently.  "  How  can 
a  woman  loved  by  the  king  be  sad,  or  shed  tears  ? " 

Laura's  hands  fell  slowly  from  her  face;  she  checked 
her  tears  and  looked  piteously  at  the  queen.  "  God,  then, 
has  heard  my  prayers,"  she  said ;  "  He  does  not  wish 
your  majesty  to  despise  and  condemn  me;  He  permits 
me  to  clear  myself  before  you !  " 

"  Clear  yourself,"  said  Elizabeth.  "  Oh,  believe  me,  in 
my  eyes  you  need  no  justification.  You  are  young,  gay, 
beautiful,  and  witty;  you  have  the  rare  art  of  conversa- 
tion; you  are  cheerful  and  spirited.  This  has  attracted 
Frederick;  for  this  he  loves  you;  in  saying  this,  all  is 
said.  It  is  impossible  for  a  woman  to  resist  his  love.  I 
forgive  you  freely,  fully.  I  have  but  one  prayer  to  make 
you:  resolve  all  your  duties  into  one;  fill  your  soul  with 
one  thought,  make  the  king  happy!  This  is  all.  I  have 
nothing  more  to  say ;  farewell !  " 

She  was  going,  but  Laura  held  her  back.  "  Oh,  your 
majesty,"  she  cried  imploringly,  listen  to  me!  do  not 
leave  me  under  this  cruel  misconception — these  insulting 
suppositions.  Do  not  think  I  am  so  degenerate,  so  base, 
so  entirely  without  womanly  feeling,  as  not  to  feel  myself 
amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  land  and  of  the  Church.  Oh, 
believe  me,  the  husband  of  my  queen  is  sacred  in  my  eyes ! 
and  even  if  I  were  so  unhappy  as  to  love  the  king,  other- 
wise than  as  a  true,  devoted  subject,  I  would  rather  die 
than  cast  one  shadow  on  the  happiness  of  your  majesty. 
Unhappy  and  guilty  as  I  am,  I  am  no  criminal.  His  maj- 
esty never  distinguished  me  by  word  or  look.  I  honored 
him,  I  revered  him,  and  nothing  more." 

"  Alas ! "  said  the  queen,  "  you  are  faint-hearted 
enough  to  deny  him.  You  have  not  the  courage  to  be 
proud  of  his  love;  you  must,  indeed,  feel  guilty." 

"  My  God !  my  God ! "  cried  Laura,  passionately, 
**  she  does  not  believe  me !  " 

"No,  I  do  not  believe  you,  Laura.    I  saw  how  you 


AND  HIS  COURT.  237 

trembled  and  paled  when  the  queen  charged  you  with 
your  love  to  her  son,  but  I  did  not  hear  you  justify  your- 
self." 

"  Alas,  alas ! "  murmured  Laura,  in  so  low  a  voice  as 
not  to  be  heard  by  the  queen,  "  I  did  not  know  her  majesty 
was  speaking  of  her  son  Frederick." 

"  Deny  it  no  longer,"  said  Elizabeth ;  "  acknowledge 
his  love,  for  which  all  women  will  envy  you,  and  for  which 
I  forgive  you." 

"  Do  not  believe  what  the  queen-mother  told  you !  '* 
cried  Laura,  passionately ;  "  I  have  done  you  no  wrong, 
I  have  no  pardon  to  ask !  " 

"And  I,"  said  Elizabeth — "I  make  no  reproaches;  I 
do  not  wail  and  weep;  I  do  not  pass  my  nights,  as  the 
queen  said,  sleeplessly  and  in  tears;  I  do  not  mourn  over 
my  lost  happiness.  I  am  content;  I  accept  my  fate- 
that  is,  if  the  king  is  happy.  But  if,  perchance,  this  is 
not  so,  if  you  do  not  make  his  happiness  your  supreme  ob- 
ject, then,  Laura,  I  take  back  the  forgiveness  so  freely 
given,  and  I  envy  you  in  my  heart.     Farewell." 

"Nu,  no,  you  must  not,  you  shall  not  go!  believe 
my  words!  have  some  pity,  some  mercy  on  me!  O 
Heavenly  Father,  I  have  suffered  enough  without  this! 
It  needed  not  these  frightful  accusations  to  punish  me 
for  a  love  which,  though  unwise,  yes,  mad,  is  not  criminal. 
As  truly  as  God  reigns,  it  is  not  the  king  I  love.  You 
turn  away,  you  do  not  believe  me  still!  Oh,  your  maj- 
esty— "  She  stopped,  her  whole  frame  trembled — she  had 
heard  her  lover's  voice;  God  had  sent  him  to  deliver  her, 
to  clear  her  from  these  disgraceful  suspicions. 

The  door  opened,  and  Prince  Augustus  William  en- 
tered; his  countenance  was  gay  and  careless,  he  had  come 
to  see  the  queen-mother,  and  had  been  directed  to  this 
saloon.  Already  sportive  and  jesting  words  were  on  his 
lips,  when  he  perceived  this  strange  scene;  Laura  on  her 
knees,  pale  and  trembling,  before  the  proud  queen,  who 

MUHLBACH    11  "^OL.    1 


238  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

left  her  disdainfully  in  her  humble  position.  It  was  a 
sight  that  the  proud  lover  could  not  endure.  The  hot 
blood  of  the  Hohenjzollerns  was  raging.  Forgetful  of  all 
consequences,  he  sprung  to  her  side,  raised  her  from  the 
floor  and  clasped  her  to  his  heart.  Then,  trembling  with 
anger,  he  turned  to  the  queen.  "  What  does  this  mean  ? 
Why  were  you  in  that  position  ?  Why  were  you  weeping, 
Laura?  You  on  your  knees,  my  Laura!  You,  who  are 
so  innocent,  so  pure,  that  the  whole  world  should  kneel 
before  and  worship  you!  And  you,  Madame,"  turning 
to  Elizabeth,  "  how  can  you  allow  this  angel  to  throw 
herself  in  the  dust  before  you?  How  dare  you  wound 
her?  What  did  you  say  to  bring  anguish  to  her  heart 
and  flood  her  face  with  tears?  Madame,  I  demand  an 
answer!  I  demand  it  in  the  name  of  honor,  justice, 
and  love.  Laura  is  my  bride,  it  is  my  right  to  defend 
her." 

"  Now,  now,"  said  Laura,  clinging  wildly  to  her  lover, 
"  she  will  no  longer  believe  that  I  love  her  husband." 

"  Your  bride !  "  said  the  queen,  with  a  sad  sweet  smile ; 
"  how  young  and  trusting  you  are,  my  brother^  to  believe 
in  the  possibility  of  such  a  marriage." 

"She  will  be  my  wife!"  cried  he  passionately;  "I 
swear  it,  and  as  truly  as  there  is  a  God  in  Heaven  I  will 
keep  my  oath!  I  have  courage  to  dare  all  dangers,  to 
trample  under  foot  all  obstacles.  I  do  not  shun  the 
world's  verdict  or  the  king's  power.  My  love  is  pure  and 
honest,  it  has  no  need  to  hide  and  veil  itself;  it  shall 
stand  out  boldly  before  God,  the  king,  and  the  whole 
world !  Go,  then — go,  Madame,  and  repeat  my  words  to 
the  king;  betray  a  love  which  chance,  undoubtedly,  re- 
vealed to  you.  It  was,  I  suppose,  the  knowledge  of  this 
love  which  led  you  to  wound  and  outrage  this  noble 
woman." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  the  queen,  gently ;  "  I  did  her  in- 
justice— I    doubted    her  words,   her    protestations;    but 


AND  HIS  COURT.  239 

Laura  knows  that  this  offence  was  involuntary,  it  all 
arose  from  a  mistake  of  the  dowager-queen." 

"  How !  my  mother  knows  of  our  love ! "  said  the 
prince,  in  amazement. 

"  'No,  she  is  convinced  that  Laura  von  Pannewitz  loves 
and  is  beloved  by  the  king;  for  this  reason  she  heaped 
reproaches  upon  her,  and  commanded  her  to  marry  Count 
Voss,  who  has  just  proposed  for  her  hand." 

The  prince  clasped  Laura  more  firmly.  "  Ah,  they 
would  tear  you  from  me;  but  my  arms  will  hold  you  and 
my  breast  will  shield  you,  my  darling.  Do  not  tremble, 
do  not  weep,  my  Laura;  arm  in  arm  we  will  go  to  the 
king.  I  will  lead  you  before  my  mother  and  the  court, 
and  tell  them  that  you  are  my  betrothed — that  I  have 
sworn  to  be  true  to  you,  and  will  never  break  my  oath." 

"  Stop — be  silent,  for  God's  sake !  "  said  Elizabeth ; 
"do  not  let  your  mother  hear  you — do  not  let  the  king 
know  your  sad,  perilous  secret.  If  he  knows  it  you  are 
lost." 

"  Your  majesty  does  not  then  intend  to  make  known 
what  you  have  heard,"  said  the  prince.  "  Have  you  the 
courage  to  conceal  a  secret  from  your  husband  ? " 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  queen,  with  a  sigh,  "  my  life, 
thoughts,  and  feelings  are  a  secret  to  him;  I  will  but  add 
this  new  mystery  to  the  rest.  Guard  this  secret,  which 
will  in  the  end  bring  you  pain  and  sorrow.  Be  cautious, 
be  prudent.  Let  the  dowager  queen  still  think  that  it  is 
the  king  whom  Laura  loves,  she  will  be  less  watchful  of 
you.  But  now  listen  to  my  request;  never  speak  to  me 
of  this  love  that  chance  revealed,  and  which  I  will  seek 
to  forget  from  this  moment;  never  remind  me  of  an  en- 
gagement which  in  the  eyes  of  the  king  and  your  mother 
would  be  unpardonable  and  punishable,  and  of  which  it 
would  be  my  duty  to  inform  them.  As  long  as  you  are 
happy — that  will  be  as  long  as  your  love  is  under  the 
protection  of  secrecy — I  will  see  nothing,  know  nothing. 


240  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

But  when  disaster  and  ruin  break  over  you,  then  come  to 
me;  then  you,  my  brother,  shall  find  in  me  a  fond,  sym- 
pathizing sister,  and  you,  poor,  wretched  girl,  will  find  a 
friend  who  will  open  her  arms  to  you,  and  will  weep  with 
you  over  your  lost  happiness." 

"  Oh,  my  queen !  "  cried  Laura,  pressing  her  hand  to 
her  lips ;  "  how  noble,  how  generous  you  are !  " 

Elizabeth  drew  the  poor  trembling  girl  to  her  heart 
and  kissed  her  pale  brow.  "  For  those  who  weep  and 
suffer  there  is  no  difference  of  rank,  a  strong  bond  of  hu- 
man sympathy  unites  them.  I  am  for  you,  not  the  queen, 
but  the  sister  who  understands  and  shares  your  griefs. 
When  you  weary  of  hidden  agony  and  solitary  weeping 
come  to  me  at  Schönhausen;  you  will  find  there  no  gaye- 
ties,  no  worldly  distractions,  but  a  silent  shady  garden, 
in  which  I  sometimes  seem  to  hear  God's  voice  comfort- 
ing and  consoling  me.  Here  you  can  weep  unnoticed, 
and  find  a  friend  who  will  not  weary  you  with  questions." 

"  I  thank  you,  and  I  will  come.  Ah !  I  know  I  shall 
soon  need  this  comfort,  my  happiness  will  die  an  early 
death!" 

"  And  may  I  also  come,  my  noble  sister  ? "  said  the 
prince. 

"  Yes,"  said  Elizabeth,  smiling,  "  you  may  also  come, 
but  only  when  Laura  is  not  with  me.  I  now  entreat  you, 
for  your  own  safety,  to  close  this  conversation.  Dry  your 
eyes,  Laura,  and  try  to  smile,  then  go  to  the  garden  and 
call  my  maids  of  honor;  and  you,  brother,  come  with  me 
to  the  queen-mother,  who  is  in  her  boudoir." 

"  No !  "  said  the  prince,  fiercely ;  "  I  cannot  see  her 
now,  I  could  not  control  myself.  I  could  not  seem  quiet 
and  indifferent  while  I  am  suffering  such  tortures." 

"  My  brother,"  said  the  queen,  "  we  princes  have  not 
the  right  to  show  how  we  suffer;  it  is  the  duty  of  all  in 
our  station  to  veil  our  feelings  with  a  smile.  Come,  the 
queen,  who  is  indignant  and  angry,  will  yet  receive  us 


AND  HIS  COURT.  241 

with  a  smile;  and  we,  who  are  so  sorrowful,  will  also 
smile.     Come." 

"  One  word  more  to  Laura,"  said  the  prince ;  and  lead- 
ing the  young  girl,  who  was  endeavoring  to  suppress  her 
emotion,  to  another  part  of  the  room,  he  threw  his  arm 
around  her  slender  form,  and  pressed  a  kiss  upon  her  fair 
cheek.  "  Laura,  my  darling,  do  you  rememher  your 
oath?  Will  you  be  true  and  firm?  Will  my  mother's 
threats  and  commands  find  you  strong  and  brave?  You 
will  not  falter?  You  will  not  accept  the  hand  of  Count 
Voss?  You  will  let  no  earthly  power  tear  you  from  me? 
They  can  kill  me,  Laura,  but  I  cannot  be  untrue  to  myself 
or  to  you !  "  Augustus  laid  his  hand  upon  her  beautiful 
head;  the  whole  history  of  her  pure  and  holy  love  was 
written  in  the  look  and  smile  with  which  she  answered 
him.  "  Do  you  remember  that  you  promised  to  meet  me 
in  the  garden  ?  " 

"  I  remember,"  said  she,  blushing. 

"  Laura,  in  a  few  days  we  will  be  separated.  The 
king  wishes  to  make  an  excursion  incognito — he  has  or- 
dered me  to  accompany  him;  I  must  obey." 

"  Oh,  my  God !  they  will  take  you  from  me !  I  shall 
never  see  you  again !  " 

"  We  will  meet  again,"  said  he  encouragingly.  "  But 
you  must  grant  me  the  comfort  of  seeing  you  once  more 
before  my  departure,  otherwise  I  shall  not  have  the  cour- 
age to  leave  you.  The  day  for  our  journey  is  not  yet 
determined;  when  it  is  fixed  I  will  come  to  inform  my 
mother  of  it  in  your  presence.  The  evening  before  I  will 
be  in  the  conservatory  and  await  you;  will  I  wait  in 
vain?" 

"  No,"  whispered  Laura,  "  I  will  be  there ;  "  and  as  if 
fleeing  from  her  own  words,  she  hurried  to  the  garden. 

Prince  Augustus  William  looked  for  his  sister-in-law 
to  accompany  her  to  the  queen;  but  she  had  withdrawn, 
she  did  not  wish  to  witness  their  parting.     Seeing  this, 


242  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

the  prince  was  on  the  point  of  following  Laura  to  the  gar- 
den, when  the  beating  of  drums  was  heard  from  without. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

SOIREE  OF  THE   QUEEN   DOWAGER. 

"The  king  is  coming,"  whispered  Augustus  William, 
and  he  stepped  towards  the  cabinet  of  the  queen-mother. 
But  the  door  was  already  opened,  and  the  two  queens 
hastened  out;  they  wished  to  reach  the  garden  saloon 
and  there  to  welcome  the  king. 

The  expression  of  both  ladies  was  restless  and  anxious. 
Sophia  Dorothea  feared  the  meeting  with  her  son,  who 
would,  perhaps,  in  the  inflamed  eyes  of  his  beloved,  read 
the  history  of  the  last  hours;  his  kingly  anger  would  be 
kindled  against  those  who  brought  tears  to  her  eyes. 
The  queen  confessed  that  she  had  gone  too  far — had  al- 
lowed herself  to  be  mastered  by  her  scorn;  she  was  em- 
barrassed and  fearful. 

Elizabeth  Christine  was  not  restless,  but  deeply 
moved;  her  heart  beat  quickly  at  the  thought  of  this 
meeting  with  her  husband;  she  had  not  seen  him  since 
the  day  of  the  coronation,  had  not  exchanged  one  single 
word  with  him  since  the  ominous  interview  in  her  cham- 
ber at  Rheinsberg.  Not  once  on  the  day  of  the  corona- 
tion had  the  king  addressed  her;  and  only  once  had  he 
taken  her  hand.  After  the  coronation  he  led  her  in  the 
midst  of  the  assembled  court,  and  said  with  a  clear  and 
earnest  voice :  "  Behold,  this  is  your  queen." 

These  ladies  were  so  excited,  so  filled  with  their  own 
thoughts  that  they  hastened  through  the  saloons,  scarcely 
remarking  the  prince,  who  had  stepped  aside  to  allow 


AND  HIS  COURT.  £43 

them  to  pass.  The  queen-mother  nodded  absently  and 
gave  him  a  passing  greeting,  then  turned  again  to  Eliza- 
beth, who  had  scarcely  patience  to  conform  her  move- 
ments to  the  slow  and  measured  steps  of  the  queen- 
mother;  she  longed  to  look  upon  her  husband's  face  once 
more. 

"  If  Laura  von  Pannewitz  complains  to  the  king,  we 
will  have  a  terrific  scene,"  said  Sophia. 

"  She  will  not  complain,"  replied  Elizabeth. 

"  So  much  the  worse,  she  will  play  the  magnanimous, 
and  I  could  less  readily  forgive  that,  than  a  complaint." 

At  this  moment  the  door  opened.  The  king,  followed 
by  his  attendants  and  those  of  the  two  queens,  entered 
the  saloon.  The  two  ladies  greeted  the  king  with  smooth 
brows  and  thoughtless  laughter.  Nothing  betrayed  the 
restless  anxiety  reigning  in  their  hearts.  Frederick  has- 
tened to  meet  his  mother,  and  bowing  low  he  greeted  her 
with  loving  and  respectful  words,  and  tenderly  kissed  her 
hand;  then  turning  to  his  wife  he  bowed  stiffly  and  cere- 
moniously; he  did  not  extend  his  hand,  did  not  utter  a 
word.  Elizabeth  bowed  formally  in  return,  and  forced 
back  the  hot  tears  which  rushed  into  her  eyes. 

The  face  of  the  queen-mother  was  again  gay  and  tri- 
umphant. The  king  knew  nothing  as  yet;  she  must  pre- 
vent him  from  speaking  with  Laura  alone.  She  glanced 
around  at  the  maid  of  honor,  and  saw  that  the  young 
maiden,  calm  and  unembarrassed,  was  conversing  with 
the  Prince  Augustus  William;  her  majesty  was  more 
than  happy  to  see  her  son  William  entertaining  the  beau- 
tiful Laura.  "  Ah !  now  I  know  how  to  prevent  the  king 
from  speaking  to  her  alone,"  thought  she. 

Sophia  was  never  so  animated,  so  brilliant;  her  spark- 
ling wit  seemed  even  to  animate  the  king.  There  was  a 
laughing  contest,  a  war  of  words,  between  them;  piquant 
jests  and  intellectual  hon  mots,  which  seemed  to  the 
admiring  courtiers   like   fallen  stars,  were   scattered  to 


244  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

right  and  left.  The  queen  would  not  yield  to  her  son, 
and  indeed  sometimes  she  had  the  advantage. 

Queen  Elizabeth  stood  sad  and  silent  near  them,  and 
if  by  chance  the  eye  of  the  king  fell  upon  her,  she  felt 
that  his  glance  was  contemptuous;  her  pale  cheeks  grew 
paler,  and  it  was  with  great  effort  she  forced  her  trem- 
bling lips  to  smile. 

The  queen-mother  proposed  to  her  son  and  Elizabeth 
to  walk  in  the  garden,  and  then  to  have  a  simple  dance  in 
the  brilliant  saloons.  The  court  mourning  would  not 
allow  a  regular  ball  at  this  time. 

"  But  why  should  we  seek  for  flowers  in  the  garden," 
said  the  king ;  "  can  there  be  lovelier  blossoms  than  those 
now  blooming  on  every  -ide  ?  "  His  eye  wandered  around 
the  circle  of  lovely  maids  of  honor,  who  cast  their  eyes 
blushingly  to  the  ground. 

Six  eyes  followed  this  glance  of  Frederick  with  pain- 
ful interest. 

"  He  scarcely  looked  at  Laura  von  Pannewitz,"  said 
the  queen,  with  a  relieved  expression. 

"He  did  not  once  glance  toward  me,"  thought  Eliza- 
beth, sighing  heavily. 

"  His  eye  did  not  rest  for  more  than  a  moment  upon 
any  woman  here,"  thought  Pöllnitz ;  "  so  it  is  clear  he  has 
no  favorite  in  this  circle.  I  will,  therefore,  succeed  with 
my  beautiful  Dorris." 

Frederick  wished  to  spare  his  mother  the  fatigue  of 
a  walk  in  the  garden — she  was  lame  and  growing  fleshy; 
he  therefore  led  her  to  a  seat,  and  bowing  silently,  he  gave 
his  left  hand  to  his  wife  and  placed  her  by  his  mother. 

Sophia,  who  watched  every  movement  and  every  ex- 
pression of  her  royal  son,  observed  the  cruel  silence  which 
he  maintained  toward  his  wife,  and  she  felt  pity  for  the 
poor,  pale,  neglected  queen.  Sophia  leaned  toward  the 
king,  who  stood  hat  in  hand  behind  her  divan,  and  whis- 
pered : 


AND  HIS  COURT.  245 

"I  believe,  my  son,  you  have  not  spoken  one  word  to 
your  wife !  " 

The  king's  face  clouded.  "  Madame,"  said  he,  in  a 
low  but  firm  tone,  "  Elizabeth  Christine  is  my  queen,  but 
not  my  wife !  "  and,  as  if  he  feared  a  further  explanation, 
he  nodded  to  the  Marquis  Algarotti  and  Duke  Chazot  to 
come  forward  and  take  part  in  the  conversation. 

Suddenly  a  lady,  who  had  not  before  been  seen  in  the 
court  circle,  approached  the  two  queens.  This  lady  was 
of  a  wondrous  pallor;  she  was  dressed  in  black,  without 
flowers  or  ornament ;  her  deep  sunken  eyes  were  filled  with 
feverish  fire,  and  a  painful  smile  played  upon  her  lips, 
which  were  tightly  pressed  together,  as  if  to  force  back  a 
cry  of  despair. 

No  one  recognised  in  this  pale,  majestic,  gentle  lady, 
the  "  Tourbillon,"  the  joyous,  merry,  laughing  Madame 
von  Morien;  no  one  could  have  supposed  that  her  fresh 
and  rosy  beauty  could,  in  a  few  months,  assume  so  earnest 
and  sad  a  character.  This  was  the  first  time  Madame 
von  Morien  had  appeared  at  the  court  of  the  queen- 
mother;  she  was  scarcely  recovered  from  a  long  and  dan- 
gerous illness.  No  one  knew  the  nature  of  her  disease, 
but  the  witty  and  ill-natured  courtiers  exchanged  many 
words  of  mockery  and  double  meaning  on  the  sub- 
ject. 

It  was  said  Madame  von  Morien  was  ill  from  the 
neglect  of  the  king.  She  suffered  from  a  chill,  which, 
strange  to  say,  had  attacked  the  king,  and  not  the  beauti- 
ful coquette.  Her  disease  was  a  new  and  peculiar  cold, 
which  did  not  attack  the  lungs,  but  seized  upon  the  heart ; 
the  same  disease,  indeed,  which  prostrated  Dido  upon  the 
departure  of  the  cruel  ^neas. 

The  queen-mother  received  this  pale,  but  still  lovely 
woman,  most  graciously;  gave  her  the  royal  hand  to 
kiss,  and  smiled  kindly. 

"  It  is  an  age  since  we  have  seen  you,  fair  baroness ; 


246  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

it  appears  as  if  you  will  make  yourself  invisible,  and  for- 
get entirely  that  we  rejoice  to  see  you." 

"  Your  royal  highness  is  most  gracious  to  remind  me 
of  that,"  said  Madame  von  Morien,  in  a  low  tone ;  "  death 
had  almost  made  me  forget  it,  and  assuredly  I  had  not 
dared  to  approach  you  with  this  pale,  thin  face,  had  not 
your  majesty's  flattering  command  given  me  courage  to 
do  so." 

There  was  something  in  the  low,  suffering  voice  of 
Madame  von  Morien  which  awakened  sympathy,  and  even 
disarmed  the  anger  of  the  queen  Elizabeth.  What  bitter 
tears  had  she  shed,  what  jealous  agony  endured,  because 
of  this  enchanting  woman!  She  saw  her  now  for  the 
first  time  since  the  fete  at  Rheinsberg.  Looking  into 
this  worn  and  sorrowful  face,  she  forgave  her  fully. 
With  the  instinct  of  a  loving  woman,  the  queen  under- 
stood the  malady  of  her  rival;  she  felt  that  Madame 
von  Morien  was  suffering  from  unrequited  affection,  and 
that  despair  was  gnawing  at  her  heart. 

The  king  had  now  no  glance,  no  greeting  for  his  "  en- 
chanting Leontine ;  "  he  continued  the  conversation  with 
Algarotti  and  Chazot  quietly,  and  did  not  consider  her 
profound  and  reverential  salutation  as  worthy  of  the 
slightest  notice. 

Elizabeth  Christine  was  pitiful;  she  gave  her  hand 
to  be  kissed,  and  spoke  a  few  friendly,  kindly  words, 
which  touched  the  heart  of  the  beautiful  Morien,  and 
brought  the  tears  to  her  eyes.  The  king,  although  stand- 
ing near,  did  not  appear  even  to  see  her. 

"  I  have  some  news  to  announce  to  your  majesty,"  he 
said,  turning  to  the  queen-mother.  "  We  are  about  to 
make  Berlin  a  temple  of  science  and  art,  the  seat  of  learn- 
ing and  knowledge.  The  Muses,  should  they  desire  to 
leave  Olympus,  shall  receive  a  most  hospitable  reception. 
Now  listen  to  the  great  news.  In  autumn  Voltaire  will 
visit  us;  and  Maupertius,  the  great  scholar,   who   first 


AND  HIS  COURT.  247 

discovered  the  form  of  the  earth,  will  come,  as  President 
of  our  Academy;  and  Buncauson,  who  understands  some 
of  the  mysteries  of  God,  will  also  come  to  Berlin.  The 
celebrated  Eulert  will  soon  belong  to  us." 

"This  is  indeed  glorious  news,"  said  Sophia;  "but  I 
fear  that  your  majesty,  when  surrounded  with  so  many 
scholars,  philosophers,  and  historians,  will  entirely  for- 
get the  poor  ignorant  women,  and  banish  them  from 
your  learned  court." 

"  That  would  be  to  banish  happiness,  beauty,  mirth, 
and  the  graces;  and  no  one  would  expect  such  barbarism 
from  the  son  of  my  noble  and  exalted  mother,"  said  Fred- 
erick. "  Even  the  Catholic  Church  is  wise  enough  to 
understand  that  in  order  to  draw  men  into  their  nets, 
the  Trinity,  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost  is  not  sufficient, 
they  have  also  called  a  lovely  woman  to  their  assistance, 
whose  beauty  and  pure  mysterious  maidenhood  is  the 
finest,  most  piquant  and  intoxicating  perfume  of  their 
gaudy  religion.  And  what  would  the  great  painters  have 
been  without  women — without  their  lovely,  their  bewitch- 
ing sweethearts,  whom  they  changed  into  holy  maidens? 
From  luxurious  women  were  designed  the  modest,  shrink- 
ing Magdalens,  before  whose  mysterious  charms  the  wise 
children  of  men  bow  the  knee  in  adoration.  Ah,  how 
many  Madonnas  has  Raphael  painted  from  his  Fornarina ! 
and  Correggio  had  the  art  to  change  his  bewitching  wife 
into  a  holy  saint.  I  must  confess,  however,  we  owe  Cor- 
reggio but  small  thanks;  I  should  have  been  more  grate- 
ful had  he  painted  us  a  glowing  woman,  radiant  with 
beauty,  grace,  and  love.  I,  for  my  part,  have  a  true  dis- 
gust for  weeping,  sighing  Magdalens,  who,  when  wearied 
with  earthly  loves  and  passions,  turn  half  way  to  heaven, 
and  swear  to  God  the  same  oaths  they  have  a  thousand 
times  sworn  to  men  and  a  thousand  times  broken.  Now, 
if  I  were  in  God's  place,  I  would  not  accept  these 
wavering  saints.    For  my  part  I  hate  these  pale,  tear- 


248  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

ful,  sighing,  self-destroying  beauties,  and  the  farcical 
exhibition  of  their  sufferings  would  never  soften  my 
heart." 

While  the  king  was  speaking  his  eye  turned  for  the 
first  time  toward  Madame  von  Morien,  and  his  glance 
rested  long,  with  a  cold  and  piercing  expression,  upon  her. 
She  had  heard  every  word  he  had  spoken,  and  every  word 
was  like  a  cold  poisoned  dagger  in  her  heart;  she  felt,  al- 
though her  eyes  were  cast  down,  that  his  stern  look  rested 
upon  her;  she  was  conscious  of  this  crushing  glance, 
although  she  saw  it  not ;  she  had  the  power  not  to  cry  out, 
not  to  burst  into  passionate  tears,  but  to  reply  quietly  to 
the  queen,  who  in  fact  questioned  her,  only  with  the 
good-humored  intention  of  drowning  the  hard  and  cruel 
words  of  the  king. 

The  queen  wished  to  lead  the  conversation  from  the 
dangerous  topic  of  religion  and  give  it  another  direction. 
"  My  son,"  she  said,  "  you  have  forgotten  to  mention 
another  great  surprise  you  have  prepared  for  us.  You 
say  nothing  of  the  German  and  French  journals  which 
you  have  presented  to  our  good  city  of  Berlin;  but  t 
assure  you  I  await  with  true  impatience  the  day  on 
which  these  journals  appear,  and  I  am  profoundly  inter- 
ested in  these  new  and  charming  lectures  which  make 
of  politics  an  amusing  theme,  and  give  us  all  the  small 
events  of  the  day." 

"  Let  us  hope,"  said  Frederick,  "  that  these  journals 
will  also  tell  us  in  the  future  of  great  events."  Then  as- 
suming a  gay  tone  he  said :  "  But  your  majesty  forgets 
that  you  promised  the  ladies  a  dance,  and  see  how  im- 
patiently the  little  princesses  look  toward  us;  my  sister 
Amelia  is  trying  to  pierce  me  with  her  scornful  glances, 
because  I  have  forced  her  to  sit  in  her  arm-chair  like  a 
maid  of  honor,  for  such  a  weary  time,  when  she  longs  to 
float  about  like  a  frolicsome  zephyr.  To  put  a  stop  to 
her  reproaches  I  will  ask  her  to  give  me  the  first  dance." 


AND  HIS  COUET.  249 

The  king  took  his  sister's  hand  and  led  her  into  the  danc- 
ing saloon. 

The  queens  and  court  followed.  "  Now  without  doubt 
he  will  seek  an  opportunity  to  speak  to  Laura  von  Panne- 
witz,"  thought  the  queen-mother ;  "  I  must  take  measures 
to  prevent  it."  She  called  Prince  Augustus  William  to 
her  side,  "  My  son,"  said  she,  "  I  have  a  favor  to  ask  of 
you." 

"  Oh,  your  majesty  has  only  to  command." 

"  I  know  that  you  are  a  good  son,  willing  to  serve 
your  mother.  Listen ;  I  have  important  reasons  for  wish- 
ing that  the  king  should  not  converse  to-night,  at  least 
not  alone,  with  Laura  von  Pannewitz;  I  will  explain  my 
reasons  to  you  another  time.  I  beg  you,  therefore,  to  pay 
court  to  Laura,  and  not  to  leave  her  side  should  the  king 
draw  near.  You  will  appear  not  to  see  his  angry  glances, 
but  without  embarrassment  join  in  the  conversation,  and 
not  turn  away  from  Laura  until  the  king  has  taken  leave. 
Will  you  do  this  for  me,  my  son  ? " 

"  I  will  fulfil  your  royal  commands  most  willingly," 
said  the  prince,  "only  it  will  be  said  that  I  am  making 
love  to  Laura  von  Pamiewitz." 

"  Well,  let  them  say  so,  Laura  is  young  and  lovely,  and 
does  credit  to  your  taste.  Let  the  court  say  what  it  will, 
we  will  not  make  ourselves  unhappy.  But  hasten,  my  son, 
hasten;  it  appears  to  me  the  king  is  even  now  approach- 
ing Laura." 

The  prince  bowed  to  his  mother,  and  with  joy  in  his 
heart  he  placed  himself  by  the  side  of  his  beloved. 

The  queen-mother,  entirely  at  ease,  took  her  seat  at 
the  card-table  with  her  daughter-in-law  and  their  cava- 
liers, while  the  king  amused  himseK  in  the  ball-room, 
and  danced  a  tour  with  almost  every  lady.  He  did  not 
dance  with  Leontine;  not  once  did  his  eye  meet  hera, 
though  her  glances  followed  him  everywhere  with  a  ten- 
der, beseeching,  melancholy  expression. 


250  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  So  sad ! "  whispered  Madame  von  Brandt,  who, 
glowing  with  beauty  and  merriment,  having  just  danced 
with  the  king,  now  took  a  seat  by  her  side. 

Madame  von  Morien  with  a  sigh  held  out  her  small 
hand.  "  Dear  friend,"  said  she,  in  a  low  voice,  "  you 
were  right.  I  should  not  have  come  here;  I  thought  my- 
self stronger  than  I  am;  I  thought  my  mourning  would 
touch  him,  and  awaken  at  least  his  pity." 

"  Pity !  "  laughed  Madame  von  Brandt ;  "  men  never 
have  pity  for  women:  they  worship  or  despise  them; 
they  place  us  on  an  altar  or  cast  us  in  the  dust  to  be  trod- 
den under  foot.  We  must  take  care,  dear  Leontine,  to 
build  the  altar  on  which  they  place  us  so  high,  that  their 
arms  cannot  reach  us  to  cast  us  down." 

"You  are  right;  I  should  have  been  more  prudent, 
wiser,  colder.  But  what  would  you?  I  loved  him,  and 
believed  in  his  heart." 

"  You  believed  in  the  heart  of  a  man !  Alas !  what 
woman  can  boast  that  she  ever  closed  that  abyss  and  al- 
ways retained  the  keys  ?  " 

"  Yes,  the  heart  of  man  is  an  abyss,"  said  Madame 
von  Morien ;  "  in  the  beginning  it  is  covered  with  flowers, 
and  we  believe  we  are  resting  in  Paradise;  but  the  blos- 
soms wither,  and  will  no  longer  support  us;  we  fall 
headlong  into  the  abyss  with  wounded  hearts,  to  suffer 
and  to  die." 

Madame  von  Brandt  laid  her  hand,  glittering  with 
jewels,  upon  the  shoulder  of  her  friend,  and  looked  deri- 
sively into  the  poor  pale  face.  "  Dear  Morien,"  said  she, 
"  we  cannot  justly  cast  all  the  blame  upon  the  men,  when 
the  day  comes  in  which  they  make  themselves  free  from 
the  bonds  of  love.  The  fault  is  often  the  woman's.  We 
misuse  our  power,  or  do  not  properly  use  it.  It  is  not 
enough  to  love  and  to  be  loved.  With  love  we  must  also 
possess  the  policy  of  love.  This  policy  is  necessary. 
The  women  who  do  not  know  how  to  govern  the  hearts 


AND  HIS  COURT.  251 

•which  love  them  will  soon  lose  their  power.  So  waa 
it  with  you,  my  dear  friend;  in  your  love  you  were  too 
much  the  woman,  too  little  the  politician  and  diplomatist ; 
and  instead  of  wisely  making  yourself  adored,  by  your 
coldness  and  reserve  you  yielded  too  much  to  your  feel- 
ings, and  have  fallen  into  that  abyss  in  which,  poor  Leon- 
tine,  you  have  for  the  moment  lost  your  health  and 
strength.  But  that  must  not  remain  the  case;  you  shall 
rise  from  this  abyss,  proud,  triumphant,  and  happy.  I 
offer  you  my  hand;  I  will  sustain  you:  while  you  sigh  I 
will  think  for  you ;  while  you  weep  I  will  see  for  you." 

Madame  von  Morien  shook  her  head  sadly.  "  You 
will  only  see  that  he  never  looks  at  me — that  I  am  utterly 
forgotten." 

"  But  when  I  see  that,  I  will  shut  my  eyes  that  I  may 
not  see  it;  and  when  you  see  it,  you  must  laugh  gayly 
and  look  the  more  triumphant.  Dear  friend,  what  has 
love  made  of  you?  Where  is  your  judgment  and  your 
coquetry?  My  God!  you  are  a  young  maiden  again,  and 
sigh  like  a  child  for  your  first  love.  However  tender  we 
may  be,  we  must  not  sacrifice  all  individuality;  besides, 
being  a  woman  you  must  still  be  a  coquette,  and  in  a 
corner  of  your  most  tender  and  yielding  heart  you  must 
ever  conceal  the  tigress,  who  watches  and  has  her  claws 
ready  to  tear  in  pieces  those  whom  you  love,  if  they  ever 
seek  to  escape  from  you.  Cease,  then,  to  be  the  neglected, 
tear-stained  Magdalen,  and  be  again  the  revengeful,  cruel 
tigress.  You  have,  besides,  outside  of  your  love,  a  glit- 
tering aim — a  member  of  the  Female  Order  of  Virtue. 
To  wear  the  cross  of  modesty  upon  your  chaste  breast, 
what  an  exalted  goal!  And  you  will  reach  it.  I  bring 
you  the  surest  evidence  of  it;  I  bring  you,  as  you  wished, 
a  letter  from  the  empress,  written  with  her  own  hand. 
You  see  all  your  conditions  are  fulfilled.  The  empress 
writes  to  you  and  assures  you  of  her  favor;  she  assures 
you  that  the  Order  of  "Virtue  will  soon  be  established. 


252  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

The  king  has  not  separated  from  his  wife,  and  for  this 
reason  you  receive  a  letter  from  the  empress.  Now  help 
to  bring  about  the  marriage  of  the  Prince  Augustus  Will- 
iam with  the  Princess  of  Brunswick,  and  you  will  be  an 
honored  member  of  the  Austrian  Order  of  Virtue.  Here, 
take  at  once  this  letter  of  the  empress." 

Madame  von  Brandt  put  her  hand  in  her  pocket  to  get 
the  letter,  but  turned  pale,  and  said,  breathlessly :  "  My 
God !  this  letter  is  not  in  my  pocket,  and  yet  I  know  posi- 
tively that  I  placed  it  there.  A  short  time  before  I  joined 
you  I  put  my  hand  in  my  pocket,  and  distinctly  felt  the 
imperial  seal.  The  letter  was  there,  I  know  it.  What 
has  become  of  it?  Who  has  taken  it  away  from  me? 
But  no,  it  is  not  possible,  it  cannot  be  lost !  I  must  have 
it;  it  must  still  be  in  my  pocket." 

Trembling  with  anxiety, .  with  breathless  haste  Ma- 
dame von  Brandt  emptied  her  pocket,  hoping  that  the 
luckless  letter  might  be  sticking  to  her  gold-embroid- 
ered handkerchief,  or  fastened  in  the  folds  of  her 
fan.  She  did  not  remember  that  her  anxiety  might  be 
observed;  and  truly  no  one  noticed  her,  all  were  occupied 
with  their  own  pleasures.  All  around  her  was  movement, 
life,  and  merry-making;  who  would  observe  her?  She 
searched  again  in  vain,  shook  her  handkerchief,  unfolded 
the  large  fan;  the  letter  could  not  be  found.  An  inde- 
scribable anxiety  overpowered  her ;  had  she  lost  the  letter  ? 
had  it  been  stolen  from  her?  Suddenly  she  remembered 
that  while  engaged  a  short  time  before  with  Pöllnitz  she 
had  drawn  out  her  fan;  perhaps  at  the  same  time  the 
letter  had  fallen  upon  the  floor,  and  Pöllnitz  might  have 
found  it,  and  might  now  be  looking  for  Madame  von 
Morien  in  order  to  restore  it.  She  searched  in  every 
direction  for  Pöllnitz. 

Madame  von  Morien  had  not  remarked  the  anguish  of 
her  friend,  or  had  forgotten  it.  She  was  again  lost  in 
dreams ;  her  eyes  fastened  on  the  face  of  the  young  king, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  253 

she  envied  every  lady  whose  hand  he  touched  in  the  dance, 
to  whom  he  addressed  a  friendly  word,  or  gave  a  gracious 
smile.     "  I  see  him  no  more,"  said  she  sadly. 

"  Who  ?  "  said  Madame  von  Brandt,  once  more  search- 
ing  her  pocket. 

"  The  king,"  Morien  answered,  surprised  at  the  ques- 
tion ;  -"  he  must  have  left  the  saloon ;  I  saw  him  a  few  mo- 
ments since  in  conversation  with  Pöllnitz." 

"  With  Pöllnitz,"  said  she  eagerly,  and  she  searched 
again  in  every  direction  for  him. 

Suddenly  Madame  von  Morien  uttered  a  low  cry, 
and  a  rosy  blush  overspread  her  fair  pale  face;  she  had 
seen  the  king,  their  eyes  had  met;  the  sharp,  observant 
glance  of  the  king  was  steadily  and  sternly  fixed  upon 
her. 

The  king  stood  in  a  window  corner,  half  hidden  by  the 
long,  heavy  silk  curtains,  and  gazed  ever  steadily  at  the 
two  ladies. 

"  I  see  the  king,"  murmured  Madame  von  Morien. 

"  And  I  see  Pöllnitz  standing  near  him,"  said  Madame 
von  Brandt,  whose  eyes  had  followed  the  direction  of  her 
friend's.  She  thrust  her  handkerchief  into  her  pocket 
and  opened  her  fan  in  order  to  hide  her  reddened  face  be- 
hind it;  the  king's  piercing  look  filled  her  with  alarm. 
"  Let  us  walk  through  the  saloons,  dear  Morien,"  said  she, 
rising  up,  "  the  heat  chokes  me,  and  I  would  gladly 
search  a  little  for  the  letter;  perhaps  it  may  yet  be 
found." 

"  What  letter  ? "  asked  Madame  von  Morien,  indiffer- 
ently.    Her  friend  stared  at  her  and  said: 

"  My  God !  you  have  not  heard  one  word  I  have  said 
to  you ! " 

"  Oh,  yes,  that  you  had  a  letter  to  give  me  from  the 
Empress  of  Austria." 

"  Well,  and  this  letter  I  have  lost  here  in  these  sa- 
loons." 


254:  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

"  Some  one  will  find  it ;  and  as  it  is  addressed  to  me, 
will  immediately  restore  it." 

"  Dear  Morien,  I  pray  you  in  God's  name  do  not  seem 
so  quiet  and  indifferent.  This  is  a  most  important  affair. 
If  I  did  not  leave  this  letter  in  my  room,  and  have  really 
lost  it,  we  are  in  danger  of  being  suspected;  in  fact,  in 
the  eyes  of  the  king  we  will  be  considered  as  spies  of  Aus- 
tria." 

At  the  name  of  the  king  Madame  von  Morien  was  at- 
tentive and  sympathetic. 

"  But  no  one  can  read  this  letter.     Was  it  sealed  ?  " 

"  Yes,  it  was  sealed ;  but,  look  you,  it  was  sealed  with 
the  private  seal  of  the  empress,  and  her  name  stands 
around  the  Austrian  arms.  Without  opening  the  letter 
it  will  be  known  that  it  is  from  the  Empress  of  Austria, 
and  will  awaken  suspicion.  Hear  me  further;  this  letter 
was  enveloped  in  a  paper  which  had  no  address,  but  con- 
tained some  words  which  will  compromise  us  brth  if  it 
is  known  that  this  letter  was  addressed  to  me." 

"  What  was  written  in  this  paper  ? "  said  Madame 
von  Morien,  still  looking  toward  the  king,  who  still  stood 
in  the  window  niche,  and  kept  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  two 
ladies. 

"  The  paper  contained  only  the  following  words : 
'Have  the  goodness  to  deliver  this  letter;  you  see  the 
empress  keeps  her  word ;  we  must  do  the  same  and  forget 
not  our  promises.  A  happy  marriage  is  well  pleasing  in 
the  sight  of  God  and  man;  the  married  woman  is 
adorned,  the  man  crowned  with  virtue.'  " 

"  And  this  letter  was  signed  ?  " 

"  No,  it  was  not  signed ;  but  if  it  falls  into  the  hands 
of  the  king,  he  will  know  from  whom  it  comes;  he  is 
acquainted  with  the  hand^\Titing  of  Manteuffel." 

"  Come !  come !  let  us  look  to  it !  "  said  Madame  von 
Morien,  now  full  of  anxiety ;  "  we  must  find  this  unfor- 
tunate paper ;  come  1  " 


AND  HIS  COURT.  255 

She  took  the  arm  of  her  friend  and  walked  slowly 
through  the  saloons,  searching  everywhere  upon  the  inlaid 
floor  for  something  white. 

"  You  are  right,"  said  the  king,  coming  from  the  win- 
dow and  following  the  ladies  with  his  eyes ;  "  you  are 
right.  They  are  both  searching  anxiously,  and  it  was 
surely  Madame  von  Brandt  to  whom  the  outer  covering 
of  this  letter  was  directed.  Let  them  seek;  they  will  find 
as  little  as  the  eleven  thousand  virgins  found.  But  now 
listen,  baron,  to  what  I  say  to  you.  This  whole  affair  re- 
mains a  secret  known  to  no  one.  Listen  well,  baron; 
known  to  no  one!  You  must  forget  that  you  found  this 
letter  and  gave  it  to  me,  or  you  will  believe  it  to  be  a 
dream  and  nothing  more." 

"Yes,  your  majesty,"  said  Pöllnitz,  smiling;  "a 
dream,  such  as  Eckert  dreamed,  when  he  supposed  the 
house  in  Jäger  Street  to  be  his,  and  awaked  and  found  it 
to  belong  to  your  highness !  " 

"  You  are  a  fool !  "  said  the  king,  smiling ;  he  nodded 
to  Pöllnitz  and  joined  the  two  queens,  who  had  now  fin- 
ished their  game  of  cards  and  returned  to  the  saloon. 

The  queen-mother  advanced  to  meet  her  son,  and  ex- 
tended her  hand  to  him;  she  wished  now  to  carry  out  her 
purpose  and  fulfil  the  promise  given  to  Duke  Rhedern. 
She  did  not  doubt  that  the  king,  who  received  her  with 
so  much  reverence  and  affection,  would  grant  her  re- 
quest, and  the  court  would  be  again  witness  to  the  great 
influence,  and  indeed  the  unbounded  power  which  she  had 
over  her  son.  She  stood  with  the  king  directly  under  the 
chandelier,  in  the  middle  of  the  saloon;  near  them  stood 
the  reigning  queen  and  the  princes  and  princesses  of  the 
royal  house.  It  was  an  interesting  picture.  It  was  curi- 
ous to  observe  this  group,  illuminated  by  the  sharp  light, 
the  faces  so  alike  and  yet  so  different  in  expression;  blos- 
soms from  one  stem,  and  yet  so  unlike  in  greatness,  form, 
and  feature.     The  courtiers  drew  near,  and  in  respectful 


256  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

silence  regarded  the  royal  family,  who,  bathed  in  a  sea 
of  light,  were  in  the  midst  of  them  but  not  of  them. 

"  My  son,"  said  the  queen,  in  a  clear,  silvery  voice,  "  I 
have  a  request  to  make  of  you."  The  king  kissed  his 
mother's  hand. 

"  Madame,  you  well  know  you  have  no  need  of  en- 
treaty; you  have  only  to  command."  Sophia  smiled 
proudly. 

"  I  thank  your  majesty  for  this  assurance !  Listen, 
then,  my  chamberlain,  Duke  Ehedern,  wishes  to  marry. 
I  have  promised  him  to  obtain  your  consent." 

"  If  my  royal  mother  is  pleased  with  the  choice  of  her 
chamberlain,  I  am,  of  course,  also  content;  always  pro- 
vided that  the  chosen  bride  of  the  duke  belongs  to  a  noble 
family.     What  is  the  rank  of  this  bride  ?  " 

The  queen  looked  embarrassed,  and  smiling,  said: 
"  She  has  no  rank,  your  majesty." 

The  king's  brow  darkened.  "  She  was  not  born,  then, 
to  be  a  duchess.  Your  chamberlain  would  do  better  to 
be  silent  over  this  folly  than  to  force  a  refusal  from 
me.  I  hate  misalliances,  and  will  not  suffer  them  at  my 
court." 

These  loudly  spoken  and  harsh  words  produced  dif- 
ferent impressions  upon  the  family  circle  of  the  king; 
some  were  cast  down,  others  joyful;  some  cheeks  grew 
pale,  and  others  red.  Sophia  blushed  from  pleasure; 
she  was  now  convinced  that  the  king  would  not  seek  a  di- 
vorce from  his  wife,  in  order  to  form  a  morganatic  mar- 
riage with  Laura  von  Pannewitz;  and  the  queen-mother 
was  of  too  noble  and  virtuous  a  nature  herself  to  believe 
in  the  possibility  of  a  mistress  at  the  court  of  Prussia. 
The  love  of  the  king  for  the  lovely  Laura  appeared  now 
nothing  more  than  a  poetical  idyl,  which  would  soon  pass 
away — nothing  more!  The  words  of  the  king  made  a 
painful  impression  upon  Augustus  William;  his  brow 
clouded,  his  features  assumed  a  painful  but  threatening 


AND  HIS  COURT.  257 

expression;  he  was  in  the  act  of  speaking,  and  opposing 
in  the  name  of  humanity  and  love  those  cruel  words  of 
the  king,  as  Elizabeth  Christine,  who  stood  near  him  and 
observed  him  with  tender  sympathy,  whispered  lightly: 

"  Be  silent,  my  brother ;  be  considerate." 

The  prince  breathed  heavily,  and  his  glance  turned 
for  comfort  toward  the  maids  of  honor.  Laura  greeted 
him  with  her  eyes,  and  then  blushed  deeply  over  her  own 
presumption.  Strengthened  by  this  tender  glance  from 
his  beautiful  bride,  Augustus  was  able  to  assume  a  calm 
and  indifferent  mien. 

In  the  meantime  the  queen-mother  was  not  silenced 
by  the  words  of  the  king.  Her  pride  rebelled  against  this 
prompt  denial  in  the  face  of  her  family  and  the  court. 
Besides,  she  had  given  her  royal  word  to  the  count,  and 
it  must  be  redeemed.  She  urged,  therefore,  her  request 
with  friendly  earnestness,  but  the  king  was  immovable. 
Sophia,  angry  at  the  opposition  to  her  will,  was  even  the 
more  resolved  to  carry  out  her  purpose.  She  had  a  few 
reserved  troops,  and  she  decided  to  bring  them  now  into 
the  field. 

"  Your  majesty  should,  without  doubt,  protect  your 
nobles  from  unworthy  alliances;  but  there  are  excep- 
tional cases,  where  the  interest  of  the  nobility  would  be 
promoted  by  allowing  such  a  union."  Sophia  Dorothea 
drew  nearer  to  her  son,  and  whispered  lightly :  "  Count 
Rhedern  is  ruined,  and  must  go  to  the  ground  if  you  for- 
bid this  marriage." 

The  king  was  now  attentive  and  sympathetic.  "Is 
the  lady  very  rich  ? " 

"  Immensely  rich,  sire.  She  will  bring  the  duke  a 
million  dollars;  she  is  the  daughter  of  the  rich  silk  mer- 
chant Orguelin." 

"  Ah,  Orguelin  is  a  brave  man,  and  has  brought  much 
gold  into  Prussia  by  his  fabrics,"  said  the  king,  who  was 
evidently  becoming  more  yielding. 


258  FEEDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  It  would  be  a  great  pity  if  this  gold  should  be  lost 
to  Prussia,"  said  the  queen. 

"  What  do  you  mean,  madame?  " 

"  This  Mademoiselle  Orguelin,  thanks  to  her  riches, 
has  many  lovers,  and  at  this  time  a  young  merchant  from 
Holland  seeks  her  hand;  he  has  the  consent  of  her  fa- 
ther, and  will  also  obtain  hers,  unless  the  count  knows 
how  to  undermine  him,"  said  the  queen,  thus  springing 
her  last  mine. 

"  This  must  not  be,"  said  the  king ;  "  this  Orguelin 
shall  not  marry  the  rich  Hollander!  Those  millions  of 
crowns  shall  not  leave  Prussia !  " 

"  But  your  majesty  cannot  prevent  this  girl  from  mar- 
rying the  man  of  her  choice,  and  you  cannot  forbid  her 
father  to  give  her  a  portion  of  his  fortune." 

The  king  was  silent  a  moment,  and  appeared  to  con- 
sider. He  then  said  to  his  mother :  "  Madame,  you  are 
an  eloquent  advocate  for  your  client,  and  no  man  can 
withstand  you.  I  give  way,  therefore;  Count  Rhedern 
has  my  consent  to  marry  the  Orguelin." 

"But  even  that  is  not  sufficient,"  said  the  queen; 
"  there  is  yet  another  condition,  without  the  filling  of 
which  this  proud  millionnaire  refuses  to  give  her  hand 
to  the  duke." 

"  Ah,  look  you,  the  little  bourgeoise  makes  conditions 
before  she  will  wed  a  count." 

"  Yes,  sire,  she  will  become  the  wife  of  the  count  only 
with  the  count's  assurance  that  she  will  be  presented  at 
court,  and  be  received  according  to  her  new  rank." 

"  Truly,"  said  the  king,  with  ironical  laughter,  "  this 
little  millionnaire  thinks  it  an  important  point  to  appear 
at  my  court." 

"It  appears  so,  sire;  it  seems  that  this  is  a  greater 
glory  than  to  possess  a  count  for  a  husband." 

Tbe  king  looked  thoughtfully  before  him,  then  raised 
his  eyes  to  his  mother  with  a  mocking  smile.     "  Mother, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  259 

you  know  I  can  refuse  you  nothing;  and  as  you  wish  it, 
Mademoiselle  Orguelin,  when  sh^  is  married,  shall  be  re- 
ceived at  my  court  as  a  newly  baked  countess.  But  peti- 
tion for  petition,  favor  for  favor.  I  promise  you  to  re- 
ceive this  new  baked  countess  if  you  will  promise  me  to 
receive  the  Count  Neal  at  your  court  ?  " 

"  Count  Neal,"  said  the  queen,  "  your  majesty 
knows " 

"  I  know,"  said  the  king,  bowing,  "  I  know  that  Count 
Neal  is  of  as  good  family  as  the  new  Countess  of  Rhe- 
dern;  that  he  possesses  many  millions  which  I  have  se- 
cured to  Prussia  by  granting  him  his  title.  So  we  un- 
derstand each  other.  The  new  baked  countess  will  be  as 
well  received  at  my  court  as  Count  Neal  will  at  yours." 

He  gave  the  queen  his  hand,  she  laid  hers  unwillingly 
within  it,  and  whispered :  "  Ah,  my  son,  you  have  cruelly 
overreached  me." 

"  Madame,  we  secure  in  this  way  three  millions  for 
Prussia,  and  they  weigh  more  than  a  few  countly  ances- 
tors. The  Prussia  of  the  future  will  triumph  in  battle 
through  her  nobles;  but  she  will  become  greater,  more 
powerful,  through  the  industry  of  her  people  than  by 
victory  on  the  battle-field." 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

UNDER  THE   LINDENS. 

Linden  Street,  of  Berlin,  which  is  now  the  most  bril- 
liant and  most  beautiful  thoroughfare  of  that  great  city, 
was,  in  the  year  1740,  a  wild  and  desolate  region. 

Frederick  the  First  loved  pomp  and  splendor.  His 
wife,  when  told  upon  her  death-bed  how  much  the  king 


260  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

would  mourn  for  her,  said,  smiling:  "He  will  occupy 
himself  in  arranging  a  superb  funeral  procession;  and  if 
this  ceremony  is  very  brilliant,  he  will  be  comforted." 

Frederick  the  First  planted  the  trees  from  which  this 
street  takes  its  name,  to  render  the  drive  to  the  palace  of 
Charlottenburg  more  agreeable  to  the  queen,  and  to  con- 
ceal as  much  as  possible  the  desolate  appearance  of  the 
surroundings;  for  all  this  suburb  lying  between  the  ar- 
senal and  the  zoological  garden  was  at  that  time  a  deso- 
late and  barren  waste.  The  entire  region,  extending 
from  the  new  gate  to  the  far-distant  Behren  Street,  was 
an  immense  mass  of  sand,  whose  drear  appearance  had 
often  offended  Frederick  while  he  was  still  the  prince 
royal.  Nothing  was  to  be  seen,  where  now  appear  ma- 
jestic palaces  and  monuments,  the  opera  house  and  the 
catholic  church,  but  sand  and  heaps  of  rubbish.  Frederick 
William  the  First  had  done  much  to  beautify  this  poor  de- 
serted quarter,  and  to  render  it  more  fitting  its  near 
neighborhood  to  the  palaces,  which  were  on  the  other  side 
of  the  fortifications;  but  the  people  of  Berlin  had  aided 
the  king  very  little  in  this  effort.  None  were  willing  to 
banish  themselves  to  this  desolate  and  remote  portion  of 
the  city,  and  the  few  stately  and  palatial  buildings  which 
were  erected  there  were  built  by  the  special  order  of  the 
king,  and  at  his  expense.  Some  wealthy  men  of  rank  had 
also  put  up  a  few  large  buildings,  to  please  the  king,  but 
they  did  not  reside  in  them,  and  the  houses  themselves 
seemed  almost  out  of  place.  One  of  these  large  and  state- 
ly houses  had  not  been  built  by  a  Count  Dohna,  or  a 
Baron  von  Pleffen,  or  any  other  nobleman,  but  by  the 
most  honorable  and  renowned  court  tailor  Pricker;  and 
for  the  last  few  days  this  house  had  rejoiced  in  a  new  and 
glittering  sign,  on  which  appeared  in  large  gilt  letters, 
"  Court  Tailor  to  her  majesty  the  dowager  queen,  and  to 
her  majesty  the  reigning  queen."  But  this  house,  with 
its  imposing  inscription,  was  also  surrounded  by  dirty. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  261 

miserable  cabins.  In  its  immediate  neighborhood  wag 
the  small  house  which  has  already  been  described  as  the 
dwelling  of  poor  Anna  Schommer. 

A  deep  and  unbroken  silence  reigned  in  this  part  of 
Berlin,  and  the  equipages  of  the  royal  family  and  nobility 
were  rarely  seen  there,  except  when  the  king  gave  an  en- 
tertainment at  Charlottenburg. 

But  to-day  a  royal  carriage  was  driven  rapidly  from 
the  palace  through  this  desolate  region,  and  toward  the 
Linden  Avenue.  Here  it  stopped,  and  four  gentlemen 
alighted.  They  were  the  king;  the  royal  architect,  Major 
Knobelsdorf;  the  grand  chamberlain.  Von  Pöllnitz;  and 
Jordan,  the  head  of  police  and  guardian  of  the  poor. 

The  king  stood  at  the  beginning  of  the  Linden 
Avenue,  and  looked  earnestly  and  thoughtfully  at  the 
large  desolate  surface  spread  out  before  him;  his  clear 
bright  glance  flew  like  lightning  here  and  there. 

"You  must  transform  this  place  for  me,  Knobelsdorf; 
you  must  show  yourself  a  very  Hercules.  You  have  the 
ability,  and  I  will  furnish  the  money.  Here  we  will 
erect  a  monument  to  ourselves,  and  make  a  glorious 
something  of  the  nothing  of  this  desert.  We  will  build 
palaces  and  temples  of  art  and  of  religion.  Berlin  is  at 
present  without  every  thing  which  would  make  it  a  tempt- 
ing resort  for  the  Muses.  It  is  your  afiair,  Knobelsdorf, 
to  prepare  a  suitable  reception  for  them." 

"But  the  Muses  are  willing  to  come  without  that," 
said  Pöllnitz,  with  his  most  graceful  bow,  "for  they 
would  discover  here  the  young  god  Apollo,  who,  without 
doubt,  found  it  too  tiresome  in  heaven,  and  has  conde- 
scended to  become  an  earthly  king." 

The  king  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Pöllnitz,"  he  said, 
"you  are  just  fitted  to  write  a  book  of  instructions  for 
chamberlains  and  court  circles ;  a  book  which  would  teach 
them  the  most  honied  phrases  and  the  most  graceful  flat- 
teries.   Why  do  you  not  compose  such  a  work  ? " 

MuHLBAGH  12  Vol.  1 


262  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  It  is  absolutely  necessary,  your  majesty,  in  order  to 
write  a  book  to  have  a  quiet  study  in  your  own  house, 
where  you  can  arrange  every  thing  according  to  your  own 
ideas  of  comfort  and  convenience.  As  I  do  not  at  present 
possess  a  house,  I  cannot  write  this  book." 

The  king  laughed  and  said :  "  Well,  perhaps  Knobels- 
dorf  can  spare  a  small  spot  here,  on  which  to  erect  your 
Tusculum.  But  we  must  first  build  the  palace  of  the 
queen-mother,  and  a  few  other  temples  and  halls.  Do 
you  not  think,  Jordan,  that  this  is  a  most  suitable  place 
on  which  to  realize  all  those  beautiful  ideals  of  which  we 
used  to  dream  at  Rheinsberg?  Could  we  not  erect  our 
Acropolis  here,  and  our  temples  to  Jupiter  and  Mi- 
nerva ? " 

"  In  order  to  convince  the  world  that  it  is  correct  in 
its  supposition,"  said  Jordan,  smiling,  "  that  your  maj- 
esty is  not  a  Christian,  but  a  heathen,  who  places  more 
faith  in  the  religion  of  the  old  Greeks  than  in  that  of  the 
new  Church  fathers." 

"  Do  they  say  that  ?  Well,  they  are  not  entirely 
wrong  if  they  believe  that  I  have  no  great  admiration  for 
popery  and  the  Church.  This  Church  was  not  built  by 
Christ,  but  by  a  crafty  priesthood.  Knobelsdorf,  on  this 
spot  must  stand  the  temple  of  which  I  have  so  often 
dreamed.  There  is  space  to  accomplish  all  that  fancy 
could  suggest  or  talent  execute." 

"  Then  the  palace  of  the  dowager  queen  must  not  be 
placed  here  ? "  asked  Knobelsdorf. 

"  JSTo,  not  here ;  this  place  has  another  destination,  of 
which  I  will  speak  further  to  you  this  evening,  and  learn 
if  my  plan  has  your  approval.  I  dare  say  my  most  quar- 
relsome Jordan  will  make  some  objections.  Eh  hien, 
nous  verrons.  We  will  proceed  and  seek  a  situatiooi  for 
the  palace  of  the  queen." 

"  If  your  majesty'  will  permit  me,"  said  Pöllnitz,  while 
the  king  with  his  three  companions  passed  slowly  down 


AND  HIS  COURT.  263 

the  Linden  Avenue,  "  I  will  take  the  liberty  of  pointing 
out  to  you  a  spot,  which  appears  most  suitable  to  me  for 
this  palace.  It  is  at  the  end  of  the  avenue,  and  at  the  en- 
trance to  the  park;  it  is  a  most  beautiful  site,  and  there 
would  be  sufficient  room  to  extend  the  buildings  at 
will." 

"  Show  us  the  place,"  said  the  king,  walking  forward. 

"  This'  is  it,"  said  Pöllnitz,  as  they  reached  the  end  of 
the  avenue. 

"  It  is  true,"  said  the  king,  "  here  is  space  enough  to 
erect  a  palace.  What  do  you  think,  Knobelsdorf,  will 
this  place  answer  ?  " 

"  We  must  begin  by  removing  all  those  small  houses, 
your  majesty;  that  would,  of  course,  necessitate  their 
purchase,  for  which  we  must  obtain  the  consent  of  the 
possessors,  who  would,  many  of  them,  be  left  shelterless 
by  this  sudden  sale." 

"  Shelterless !  "  said  the  king ;  "  since  Jordan  has  be- 
come the  father  of  the  poor,  none  are  shelterless,"  as  he 
glanced  toward  his  much-beloved  friend.  "  This  spot 
seems  most  suitable  to  me.  The  palace  might  stand  on 
this  side;  on  that  a  handsome  public  building,  perhaps 
the  library,  and  uniting  the  two  a  lofty  arch  in  the 
Grecian  style.  We  will  convert  that  wood  into  a  beauti- 
ful park,  with  shady  avenues,  -tasteful  parterres,  marble 
statues,  glittering  lakes,  and  murmuring  streams." 

"  Only  a  Frederick  could  dream  it  possible  to  convert 
this  desolate  spot  into  such  a  fairy  land,"  said  Jordan, 
smiling.  "  For  my  part,  I  see  nothing  here  but  sand,  and 
there  a  wood  of  miserable  stunted  trees." 

The  king  smiled.  "  Blessed  are  they  who  believe 
without  having  seen,"  he  said.  "  Well,  Knobelsdorf,  is 
there  room  here  to  carry  out  our  extensive  plans  ? " 

"  Certainly ;  and  if  your  majesty  will  furnish  me 
with  the  requisite  funds,  the  work  can  be  begun  without 
delay." 


264  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  What  amount  will  be  required  ?  " 

"  If  it  is  all  executed  as  your  majesty  proposes,  at  least 
a  million." 

"  Very  well,  a  million  is  not  too  much  to  prepare  a 
pleasure  for  the  queen-mother." 

"  But,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "  will  not  your  majesty  make 
those  poor  people  acquainted  with  their  fate,  and  console 
them  by  a  gracious  word  for  being  compelled  to  leave 
their  homes?  It  has  only  been  a  short  time  since  I  was 
driven  by  the  rain  to  take  shelter  in  one  of  those  houses, 
and  it  made  me  most  melancholy,  for  I  have  never  seen 
such  want  and  misery.  There  were  starving  children, 
a  woman  dying  of  grief,  and  a  drunken  man.  Truly  as  I 
saw  this  scene  I  longed  to  be  a  king  for  a  few  moments, 
that  I  might  send  a  ray  of  happiness  to  brighten  this 
gloomy  house,  and  dry  the  tears  of  these  wretched 
people." 

"  It  must  have  been  a  most  terrible  sight  if  even  Pöll- 
nitz was  distressed  by  it,"  cried  the  king,  whose  noble 
countenance  was  overshadowed  with  sorrow.  "  Come, 
Jordan,  we  will  visit  this  house,  and  you  shall  assist  in 
alleviating  the  misery  of  its  inhabitants.  You,  Knobels- 
dorf,  can  occupy  yourself  in  making  a  drawing  of  this 
place.     Lead  the  way,  Pöllnitz." 

"  My  desire  at  last  attained,"  thought  Pöllnitz, 
as  he  led  the  king  across  the  common.  "  It  has  been  most 
difficult  to  bring  the  king  here,  but  I  am  confident  my 
plan  will  succeed.  Dorris  Ritter  doubtless  expects  us; 
she  will  have  considered  my  words,  and  yielding  to  her 
natural  womanly  coquetry,  she  will  have  followed  my 
counsel,  and  have  made  use  of  the  clothing  I  sent  her 
yesterday." 

They  now  stood  before  the  wretched  house  which  Pöll- 
nitz had  indicated. 

"  This  house  has  truly  a  most  gloomy  appearance," 
said  the  king. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  265 

"  Many  sad  tears  have  been  shed  here,"  said  Pöllnitz, 
with  the  appearance  of  deep  sympathy. 

The  door  of  the  shop  was  merely  closed;  the  king 
pushed  it  open,  and  entered  with  his  two  companions. 
No  one  came  forward  to  meet  them;  silence  reigned  in 
the  deserted  room. 

"Permit  me,  your  majesty,  to  go  into  that  room  and 
call  the  woman;  she  probably  did  not  hear  us  enter." 

"  No,  I  will  go  myself,"  said  the  king ;  "  it  is  well  that 
I  should  occasionally  seek  out  poverty  in  its  most 
wretched  hiding-place,  that  I  may  learn  to  understand 
its  miseries  and  temptations." 

"  Ah !  my  king,"  said  Jordan,  deeply  touched,  "  from 
to-day  your  people  will  no  longer  call  you  their  king,  but 
their  father." 

The  king  stepped  quickly  to  the  door  which  Pöllnitz 
had  pointed  out;  the  two  gentlemen  followed,  and  re- 
mained standing  behind  him,  glancing  curiously  over 
his  shoulder. 

The  king  crossed  the  threshold,  and  then  stood  mo- 
tionless, gazing  into  the  room.  "  Is  it  possible  to  live  in 
such  a  den  ?  "  he  murmured. 

"  Yes,  it  is  possible,"  replied  a  low,  scornful  voice ;  "  I 
live  here,  with  misery  for  my  companion." 

The  king  was  startled  by  this  voice,  and  turned  toward 
that  side  of  the  room  from  which  it  proceeded;  only  then 
seeing  the  woman  who  sat  in  the  farthest  corner.  She 
remained  motionless,  her  hands  folded  on  her  lap;  her 
face  was  deadly  pale,  but  of  a  singularly  beautiful  oval; 
the  hair  encircling  her  head  in  heavy  braids,  was  of  a 
light,  shining  blond,  and  had  almost  the  appearance  of 
a  halo  surrounding  her  clear,  pale  face,  which  seemed 
illumined  by  her  wonderful  eyes. 

"  She  has  not  made  use  of  the  things  which  I  sent," 
thought  Pöllnitz;  "but  I  see  she  understands  her  own 
advantages.     She   is   really   beautiful;  she   looks   like   a 


266  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

marble  statue  of  the  Virgin  Mary  in  some  poor  village 
church." 

The  king  still  stood  gazing,  with  an  earnest  and 
thoughtful  expression,  at  this  woman,  who  looked  fixedly 
at  him,  as  if  she  sought  to  read  his  thoughts.  But  he  re- 
mained quiet,  and  apparently  unmoved.  Did  the  king 
recognize  this  woman  ?  did  he  hear  again  the  dying  melo- 
dies of  his  early  youth?  was  he  listening  to  their  sweet, 
but  melancholy  tones?  !N"either  PöUnitz  nor  Dorris  Rit- 
ter could  discover  this  in  his  cold,  proud  face. 

Jordan  broke  this  silence  by  saying  gently,  "  Stand 
up,  my  good  woman,  it  is  the  king  who  is  before  you." 

She  rose  slowly  from  her  seat,  but  her  countenance 
did  not  betray  the  least  astonishment  or  pleasure. 

"  The  king !  "  she  said ;  "  what  does  the  king  desire  in 
this  den  of  poverty  and  misery  ? " 

"  To  alleviate  both  poverty  and  misery  if  they  are 
undeserved,"  said  the  king  softly. 

She  approached  him  quickly,  and  made  a  movement 
as  if  she  would  offer  him  her  hand.  "  My  wretchedness 
is  undeserved,"  she  said,  "  but  not  even  a  king  can  alle- 
viate it." 

"  Let  me,  at  least,  attempt  to  do  so.  In  what  can  I 
assist  you  ? " 

She  shook  her  head  sadly.  "If  King  Frederick,  the 
son  of  Frederick  William  the  First,  does  not  know,  then 
I  do  not." 

"You  are  poor,  perhaps  in  want?" 

"I  do  not  know — it  is  possible,"  she  said  absently; 
"  how  can  I  among  so  many  pains  and  torments  distin- 
guish between  despair  and  anguish,  and  want  and  priva- 
tion ? " 

"  You  have  children  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  she  said,  shuddering,  "  I  have  children,  and 
they  suffer  from  hunger ;  that  I  know,  for  they  often  pray 
to  me  for  bread,  when  I  have  none  to  give  them." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  267 

"Why  does  not  their  father  take  care  of  them;  per- 
haps he  is  not  living  ? " 

"  He  lives,  but  not  for  us.  He  is  wiser  than  I,  and  for- 
gets his  grief  in  drink,  while  I  nourish  the  gnawing  viper 
at  my  heart." 

"  You  have,  then,  nothing  to  ask  of  me  ? "  said  the 
king,  becoming  indignant. 

She  gazed  at  him  long  and  searchingly,  with  her 
great  piercing  eyes.  "  No,"  she  said  harshly,  "  I  have 
nothing  to  ask." 

At  this  moment  the  door  was  thrown  open,  and  the 
two  children,  Karl  and  Anna,  ran  in,  calling  for  their 
mother;  but  they  became  silent  on  perceiving  the 
strangers,  and  crept  shyly  to  her  side.  Dorris  Eitter 
was  strangely  moved  by  the  appearance  of  her  children; 
her  countenance,  which  had  borne  so  hard  an  expression, 
became  mild  and  gentle.  She  grasped  the  hands  of  the 
two  children,  and  with  them  approached  the  king. 

"  Yes,  your  majesty,  I  have  a  petition  to  make.  I 
implore  your  pity  for  my  children.  They  are  pure  and 
innocent  as  God's  angels;  let  not  the  shame  and  misery 
of  their  parents  fall  upon  their  heads.  King  Frederick, 
have  pity  on  my  children !  " 

And  overcome  by  her  emotions  and  her  anguish,  this 
unhappy  woman  sank  with  her  children  at  the  feet  of  the 
king.  The  king  regarded  her  thoughtfully,  then  turned 
to  Jordan. 

"  Jordan,"  said  he,  "  to  you  I  intrust  the  care  of  these 
children." 

The  wretched  woman  started  to  her  feet,  and  pressed 
her  children  to  her  arms  with  an  expression  as  terrified 
and  full  of  agony  as  that  of  the  noble  and  touching  statue 
of  the  Greek  Niobe. 

"  Ah !  you  would  tear  my  children  from  me !  üsTo,  no, 
I  ask  nothing;  we  need  no  mercy,  no  assistance;  we  will 
suffer  together;  do  not  separate  us.     They  would  cease 


268  FREDERICK   THE  GREAT 

to  love  me;  they  would  learn  to  despise  me,  their  mother, 
■who  only  lives  in  their  presence;  who,  in  the  midst  of  all 
her  sorrow  and  grief,  thanks  God  daily  upon  her  bended 
knees  that  he  gave  her  these  children,  who  alone  have 
saved  her  from  despair  and  death." 

"  You  have  uttered  very  wild  and  godless  words,"  said 
the  king.  "  You  should  pray  to  God  to  make  your  heart 
soft  and  humble.  To  be  poor,  to  suffer  from  hunger,  to 
have  a  drunken  husband,  are  great  misfortunes,  but  they 
can  be  borne  if  you  have  a  pure  conscience.  Your  chil- 
dren shall  not  be  parted  from  you.  They  shall  be  clothed 
and  taught,  and  I  will  also  see  what  can  be  done  for  you. 
And  now  farewell." 

And  the  king,  bowing  slightly,  turned  toward  the 
door,  and  in  doing  so  placed  a  few  pieces  of  gold  on  the 
table.  Dorris  had  watched  every  movement;  she  started 
wildly  forward  and  seized  the  gold,  which  she  handed  to 
the  king. 

"  Your  majesty,"  she  said,  with  flashing  eyes,  "  I  only 
implored  mercy  for  my  children;  I  did  not  beg  for  my- 
self. My  sufferings  cannot  be  wiped  out  with  a  few 
pieces  of  gold." 

The  countenance  of  the  king  assumed  a  most  severe 
expression,  and  he  threw  an  annihilating  glance  on  this 
bold  woman,  who  dared  to  oppose  him. 

"  I  did  not  give  the  gold  to  you,  but  to  your  children," 
he  said ;  "  you  must  not  rob  them."  He  then  continued 
more  gently :  "  If  you  should  ever  need  and  desire  assist- 
ance, then  turn  to  me;  I  will  remember  your  poverty,  not 
your  pride.  Tell  me  your  name,  therefore,  that  I  may 
not  forget." 

The  poor,  pale  woman  glanced  searchingly  at  him. 
"  My  name,"  she  said  thoughtfully,  as  if  to  herself, 
"King  Frederick  wishes  to  know  my  name.  I  am  called 
■ — I  am  called  Anna  Schommer." 

And  as  she  replied,  she  placed  her  hand  upon  the  head 


AND  HIS  COURT.  269 

of  her  little  daughter,  as  if  she  needed  a  support.  Thus 
she  stood  trembling,  but  still  upright,  with  head  erect, 
while  the  king  and  his  suite  turned  toward  the  door. 
Her  son,  who  had  kept  his  eyes  upon  the  king,  now  fol- 
lowed him  and  lightly  touched  his  mantle. 

His  mother  saw  it,  and  raising  her  arm  threateningly, 
while  with  the  other  she  still  supported  herself  by  leaning 
on  her  child,  she  cried :  "  Do  not  touch  him,  my  son. 
Kings  are  sacred." 

Frederick,  already  standing  on  the  threshold,  turned 
once  more ;  his  great,  luminous  eyes  rested  inquiringly  on 
this  pale,  threatening  figure.  An  indescribably  sad  smile 
played  upon  his  features,  but  he  spoke  no  word;  and 
slowly  turning,  he  passed  through  the  door,  and  hurried 
silently  from  the  shop. 

Dorris  Ritter  uttered  a  low  cry  when  she  no  longer 
saw  him;  her  hands  slid  powerless  from  the  head  of  her 
child,  and  hung  heavily  at  her  side.  The  child,  thus  set 
at  liberty,  hurried  out  to  gaze  at  the  king  and  his  escort. 

The  poor  woman  was  all  alone — alone  with  her  grief 
and  painful  memories.  She  stood  for  a  long  time  motion- 
less and  silent,  as  if  unconscious,  then  a  dull,  heavy  groan 
escaped  from  her  breast,  and  she  fell  as  if  struck  by  light- 
ning. "  He  did  not  even  know  me,"  she  cried.  "  For 
him  I  suffer  pain  and  misery,  and  he  passes  by,  and 
throws  me  the  crumbs  of  benevolence  which  fall  from  his 
bountiful  table."  For  many  minutes  she  lay  thus  broken 
and  trembling;  then,  suddenly  excited  by  pride  and  re- 
venge, she  arose,  with  a  wild  gleam  in  her  eyes.  She 
raised  her  hand  as  if  calling  upon  God  to  witness  her 
words,  and  said  solemnly,  "He  did  not  recognize  me  to- 
day, but  a  day  will  come  on  which  he  shall  recognize  me 
— the  day  on  which  I  avenge  my  wretched  and  tormented 
life!  He  is  a  royal  king  and  I  a  poor  woman,  but  the 
sting  of  a  venomous  insect  sufiices  to  destroy  even  a  king. 
Revenge  I  will  have ;  revenge  for  my  poisoned  existence." 


270  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

THE  POLITICIAN  AND  THE   FRENCH  TAILOR. 

Without,  the  scene  had  changed  in  the  meanwhile. 
The  attention  of  the  people  had  been  attracted  to  the 
kiBg's  presence  by  the  royal  equipage  which  was  slowly 
driving  down  the  street,  and  one  and  all  hurried  from 
their  houses  to  see  and  greet  their  handsome  young  mon- 
arch. Men  and  women,  young  and  old,  were  running 
about  confusedly,  each  one  inquiring  of  his  neighbor  why 
the  king  had  come,  and  where  he  might  now  be,  as  his 
carriage  was  apparently  awaiting  him.  And  why  was 
that  fat  man,  who  was  seated  on  the  sidewalk,  sketching 
this  sandy  place  with  its  poor  little  houses? 

Even  the  proud  and  self-satisfied  Mr.  Pricker  had  not 
considered  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  descend  to  the  street 
door,  where  he  took  his  stand  surrounded  by  his  assistants 
and  apprentices. 

"  It  is  said  the  king  has  gone  into  the  house  of  Schom- 
mer,  the  grocer,"  said  one  of  his  assistants,  returning 
from  a  reconnoissance  he  had  made  among  the  noisy  and 
gossiping  multitude. 

Mr.  Pricker  shook  his  head  gravely.  "  He  must  have 
been  misinformed,  for  he  undoubtedly  intended  coming 
to  this  house  and  paying  me  a  visit,  an  intention  which 
would  be  neither  novel  nor  surprising  in  my  family. 
None  of  the  rulers  of  the  house  of  Hohenzollern  have  as 
yet  neglected  to  pay  a  visit  to  the  house  of  Pricker.  The 
present  king  will  not  fail  to  observe  this  noble  custom, 
for " 

The  worthy  Mr.  Pricker  was  interrupted  by  the  shouts 
of  the  people.  The  king  had  appeared  upon  the  streets, 
and  was  greeted  with  vociferous  cheers,  amid  the  waving 
of  hats  and  handkerchiefs. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  271 

Mr.  Pricker,  observing  with  intense  satisfaction  that 
the  king  had  turned  and  was  advancing  in  the  direction 
of  his  house,  stepped  forward  with  a  self-gratulatory 
smile,  and  placed  himself  immediately  at  the  side  of  the 
king's  path.  But  the  king  passed  by  without  noticing 
him.  On  this  occasion  he  did  not  return  the  greeting  of 
the  people  in  quite  so  gracious  a  manner  as  usual;  his 
eye  was  dim,  and  his  brow  clouded.  Without  even 
favoring  the  smiling  and  bowing  Pricker  with  a 
glance,  he  passed  on  to  the  carriage  which  awaited 
him  in  front  of  the  court  dressmaker's.  The  king 
entered  hastily,  his  cavaliers  following  him,  and 
the  carriage  drove  off.  The  shouting  of  the  populace 
continued,  however,  until  it  disappeared  in  the  dis- 
tance. 

"Why  do  these  poor  foolish  people  shout  for  joy?" 
grumbled  Mr.  Pricker,  shrugging  his  shoulders.  Now 
that  the  king  had  taken  no  notice  of  him,  this  man  was 
enraged.  "  What  do  they  mean  by  these  ridiculous  cries, 
and  this  waving  of  hats?  The  king  regarded  them  as 
discontentedly  as  if  they  were  vermin,  and  did  not  even 
favor  them  with  a  smile.  How  low-spirited  he  is!  his 
not  recognizing  me,  the  court  dressmaker  of  his  wife, 
shows  this  conclusively.  It  must  have  been  his  inten- 
tion to  visit  me,  for  his  carriage  had  halted  immediately 
in  front  of  my  door;  in  his  depression  he  must  have  en- 
tirely forgotten  it." 

The  crowd  had  begun  to  disperse,  and  but  a  few  iso- 
lated groups  could  now  be  seen,  who  were  still  eagerly 
engaged  in  discussing  the  king's  appearance. 

At  a  short  distance  from  Mr.  Pricker  were  several 
grave  and  dignified  citizens,  dressed  in  long  coats  orna- 
mented with  immense  ivory  buttons,  and  wearing  long 
cues,  which  looked  out  gravely  from  the  three-cornered 
hats  covering  their  smooth  and  powdered  hair. 

Mr.  Pricker  observed  these  citizens,  and  with  a  friend- 


272  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

ly  greeting  beckoned  to  them  to  approach.  "  My  worthy 
friends,  did  you  also  come  to  see  the  king  ? " 

"  No,  we  were  only  passing,  but  remained  standing 
when  we  saw  the  king." 

"  A  very  handsome  young  man." 

"  A  very  wise  and  learned  young  king." 

"  And  still " 

"  Yes,  and  still " 


"  Yes,  that  is  my  opinion  also,  worthy  friends,"  sighed 
Mr.  Pricker. 

"  The  many  innovations  and  ordinances ;  it  terrifies 
one  to  read  them." 

"  Every  day  something  new." 

"  Yes,  it  is  not  as  it  was  in  the  good  old  times,  under 
the  late  lamented  king.  Ah,  we  then  led  a  worthy  and 
respectable  life.  One  knew  each  day  what  the  next 
would  bring  forth.  He  who  hungered  to-day  knew  that 
he  would  also  do  so  on  the  morrow;  he  who  was  rich  to- 
day knew  that  he  would  still  be  so  on  the  morrow.  Ours 
was  an  honest  and  virtuous  existence.  Prudence  and 
propriety  reigned  everywhere;  as  a  husband  and  father, 
the  king  set  us  an  exalted  example." 

"  It  is  true,  one  ran  the  risk  of  being  struck  occasion- 
ally; and  if  a  man  had  the  misfortune  to  be  tall,  he  was 
in  danger  of  being  enrolled  among  the  guards,"  said  an- 
other. "  But  this  was  all.  In  other  respects,  however, 
one  lived  quietly  enough,  smoked  his  pipe,  and  drank  his 
pot  of  beer;  and  in  these  two  occupations  we  could  also 
consider  the  king  as  our  model  and  ideal." 

"But  now!" 

"Yes,  now!  Every  thing  changes  with  the  rapidity 
of  the  wind.  He  who  but  yesterday  was  poor,  is  rich 
to-day;  the  man  who  was  rich  yesterday,  is  to-day  im- 
poverished and  thrown  aside;  this  was  the  fate  of  the 
Privy  Counsellor  von  Eckert.  I  worked  for  him,  and  he 
was  a  good  customer,  for  he  used  a  great  many  gloves. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  273 

almost  'a  dozen  pair  every  month ;  and  now  I  have  lost 
this  good  customer  by  the  new  government." 

"  But,  then,  Eckert  deserved  it,"  said  the  fat-  beer 
brewer.  "  He  oppressed  the  people,  and  was  altogether 
an  arrogant  puffed-up  fellow,  who  greeted  nobody,  not 
even  myself.  It  serves  him  right  that  the  king  has  taken 
the  new  house  in  Jäger  Street  away  from  him;  there  was 
justice  in  that." 

"  But  the  late  lamented  king  had  given  it  to  him,  and 
his  last  will  should  have  been  honored." 

"  Yes,  that  is  true ;  the  last  will  of  the  late  lamented 
monarch  should  have  been  honored,"  they  all  exclaimed 
with  earnest  gravity. 

"  Oh,  we  will  have  to  undergo  a  great  many  trials," 
sighed  Mr.  Pricker.  "  Could  you  believe,  my  friends, 
that  they  contemplate  depriving  us  of  our  respectable  cue, 
and  replacing  it  with  a  light,  fantastic,  and  truly  immoral 
wig?" 

"  That  is  impossible !  That  can  never  be !  We  will 
never  submit  to  that !  "  exclaimed  the  assembled  group, 
with  truly  Grecian  pathos. 

"  They  wish  to  give  us  French  fashions,"  continued 
Pricker ;  "  French  fashions  and  French  manners.  I  can 
see  the  day  coming  when  we  will  have  French  glovemak- 
ers  and  shoemakers,  French  hair-dressers  and  beer-brewers ; 
yes,  and  even  French  dressmakers.  I  see  the  day  coming 
when  a  man  may  with  impunity  hang  out  a  sign  with 
French  inscriptions  over  his  shop-door,  and  when  he  who 
intersperses  his  honest  German  with  French  phrases,  will 
no  longer  be  well  beaten.  Ah,  the  present  king  will  not, 
like  his  lamented  predecessor,  have  two  girls  arrested  be- 
cause they  have  said  '  charmant; '  he  will  not,  with  his 
own  hands,  belabor  the  young  lads  who  have  the  assur- 
ance to  appear  on  the  streets  in  French  costumes,  as  the 
deceased  king  so  often  did.  Every  thing  will  be  different, 
but  not  better,  only  more  French." 


274  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

"  Yes,  could  it  be  believed,"  exclaimed  the  fat  beer- 
brewer,  "  that  they  think  of  crying  down  beer,  the  favorite 
beverage  of  the  late  lamented  king,  which,  at  all  events, 
should  be  holy  in  the  sight  of  his  son  ?  At  court  no  more 
beer  will  be  drank,  but  only  French  wines;  and  he  who 
wishes  to  be  modern  and  acceptable  at  court  will  turn  up 
his  nose  at  the  beer-pot,  and  drink  mean  and  adulterated 
wines.  Yes,  even  coffee  is  coming  into  fashion,  and  the 
coffee-house  keeper  in  the  pleasure-garden,  who,  up  to 
the  present  time,  was  only  permitted  to  make  coffee  for 
the  royal  family  and  a  few  other  rich  people  at  court, 
has  not  alone  received  permission  to  serve  coffee  to  every- 
body, but  every  innkeeper  may  do  the  same  thing." 

"  And  have  you  heard,"  asked  the  glovemaker  gloom- 
ily, "  that  the  two  hotel-keepers  in  Berlin,  Nicolai  and  St. 
Vincent,  have  their  rivals,  and  will  no  longer  keep  the 
only  houses  where  a  good  dinner  can  be  had  for  money? 
Two  French  cooks  have  already  arrived,  and  one  of  them 
has  opened  a  house  in  Frederick  Street,  the  other  one  in 
King  Street,  which  they  call  '  Restauration.'  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  shoemaker  with  a  sigh,  "  I  went  to  the 
French  house  in  Frederick  Street  yesterday,  and  ate  a 
meal  out  of  curiosity.  Ah,  my  friends,  I  could  have  cried 
for  rage,  for  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  it  was  a  better  meal 
than  we  could  ever  get  at  Nicolai's  or  St.  Vincent's; 
moreover  I  paid  less  for  it." 

"  It  is  a  shame.  A  Frenchman  comes  here  and  gives  a 
better  and  cheaper  dinner  than  a  native  of  Berlin,"  said 
Mr.  Pricker.  "  I  tell  you  we  will  all  have  much  to  en- 
dure; and  even  my  title  is  insufficient  to  protect  me 
from  insult  and  humiliation,  for  it  might  happen 
that " 

Mr.  Pricker  suddenly  became  silent  and  stared  toward 
the  centre  of  the  street,  astonishment  and  curiosity  de- 
picted on  his  countenance  and  on  that  of  his  friends,  who 
followed  the  direction  of  his  glances. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  275 

And  in  truth  a  very  unusual  spectacle  presented  itself 
to  these  worthy  burghers.  A  carriage  was  slowly  passing 
along  the  street  drawn  by  two  weary  and  smoking  horses. 
This  carriage  was  of  the  elegant  and  modern  French 
make,  now  becoming  fashionable  at  court,  and  was  called 
a  chaise.  As  the  top  was  thrown  back,  its  occupants 
could  very  well  be  seen. 

On  the  front  seat  were  three  persons.  The  first  was 
a  man  of  grave  and  earnest  demeanor  and  commanding 
appearance.  His  tall  and  well-made  figure  was  clad  in  a 
black  velvet  coat  with  little  silver  buttons,  ornamented 
on  the  sleeves  and  breast  with  elegant  lace  rufiles.  His 
hair,  which  was  turning  gray,  was  twisted  in  a  knot  at  the 
back  of  his  head,  from  which  a  ribbon  of  enormous  length 
was  pendant.  A  small  three-cornered  hat,  of  extraor- 
dinary elegance,  rested  on  the  toupet  of  curls  which  hung 
down  on  either  side  of  his  head  and  shaded  the  forehead, 
which  displayed  the  dignity  and  sublimity  of  a  Jupiter. 

At  his  side  sat  two  females,  the  middle  one  an  elderly, 
grave-looking  lady ;  the  other  a  beautiful  young  girl,  with 
smiling  lips,  glowing  black  eyes,  and  rosy  cheeks.  The 
elegant  and  graceful  attire  of  these  ladies  was  very  dif- 
ferent from  the  grave  and  sober  costume  of  the  women  of 
Berlin.  Their  dresses  were  of  lively  colors,  with  wide 
sleeves  bordered  with  lace,  and  with  long  waists,  the  low 
cut  of  which  in  front  displayed  in  the  one  the  beauty  and 
freshness  of  her  neck;  and  in  the  other,  the  richness  of 
a  guipure  scarf  with  which  her  throat  was  covered. 
Their  heads  were  covered  with  immense  toupets  of  pow- 
dered hair,  surmounted  by  little  velvet  hats,  from  which 
long  and  waving  ribbons  hung  down  behind. 

On  the  back  seat  were  three  other  young  ladies  dressed 
in  the  same  style,  but  less  richly.  This  first  carriage  was 
followed  by  a  second,  which  contained  six  young  men  in 
French  costumes,  who  were  looking  around  with  lively 
curiosity,  and  laughed  so  loudly  that  the  worthy  burgher 


2Y6  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT  . 

who  stood  in  front  of  Pricker's  house  could  hear  every 
word  they  uttered,  but  unfortunately  could  understand 
nothing. 

"  Frenchmen !  "  murmured  Mr,  Pricker,  with  a  slight 
shudder. 

"  Frenchmen ! "  echoed  his  friends,  staring  at  this 
novel  spectacle. 

But  how?  Who  was  that  standing  by  the  first  car- 
riage which  had  halted  in  front  of  Mr.  Pricker's  house? 
Who  was  that  speaking  with  the  young  girl,  who  smiling- 
ly leant  forward  from  the  carriage  and  was  laughing  and 
jesting  with  him?  How?  Was  this  young  man  really 
the  son  and  heir  of  Mr.  Pricker?  Was  he  speaking  to 
these  strangers,  and  that,  too,  in  French?  Yes,  Mr. 
Pricker  could  not  deceive  himself,  it  was  his  son;  it  was 
William,  his  heir. 

"  How  ?  Does  your  son  speak  French  ?  "  asked  the 
glovemaker,  in  a  reproachful  tone. 

"  He  so  much  desired  to  do  so,"  said  Mr.  Pricker,  with 
a  sigh,  "  that  I  was  forced  to  consent  to  give  him  a 
French  teacher." 

William,  who  had  observed  his  father,  now  hurried 
across  the  street.  The  young  man's  eyes  glowed;  his 
handsome  face  was  enlivened  with  joy;  his  manner  de- 
noted eagerness  and  excitement. 

"  Father,"  said  he,  "  come  with  me  quickly !  These 
strangers  are  so  anxious  to  speak  with  you.  Just  think 
how  fortunate !  I  was  passing  along  the  Charlottenburg 
road  when  I  met  the  travellers.  They  addressed  me  in 
French,  and  inquired  for  the  best  hotel  in  Berlin.  It  was 
lucky  that  I  understood  them,  and  could  recommend  the 
*  City  of  Paris.'  Ah,  father,  what  a  beautiful  and  charm- 
ing girl  that  is;  how  easy  and  graceful!  In  the  whole 
city  of  Berlin  there  is  not  so  beautiful  a  girl  as  Blanche. 
I  have  been  walking  along  by  the  side  of  the  carriage  for 
half  an  hour,  and  we  have  been  laughing  and  talking  like 


AND  HIS  COURT.  27Y 

old  friends;  for  when  I  discovered  who  they  were,  and 
why  they  were  coming  to  Berlin,  I  told  them  who  my 
father  was  directly,  and  then  the  old  gentleman  became 
so  friendly  and  condescending.  Come,  father,  Mr.  Pelis- 
sier  longs  to  make  your  acquaintance." 

"  But  I  do  not  speak  French,"  said  Mr.  Pricker,  who, 
notwithstanding  his  antipathy  to  Frenchmen,  still  felt 
flattered  by  this  impatience  to  make  his  acquaintance. 

"  I  will  be  your  interpreter,  father.  Come  along,  for 
you  will  also  be  astonished  when  you  hear  who  this  Mr. 
Pelissier  is."  And  William  drew  his  father  impatiently 
to  the  carriage. 

Mr.  Pricker's  friends  stood  immovable  with  curiosity, 
awaiting  his  return  with  breathless  impatience.  At  last 
he  returned,  but  a  great  change  had  taken  place  in  Mr. 
Pricker.  His  step  was  uncertain  and  reeling;  his  lips 
trembled,  and  a  dark  cloud  shaded  his  brow.  He  ad- 
vanced to  his  friends  and  regarded  them  with  a  wild  and 
vacant  stare.  A  pause  ensued.  The  hearts  of  all  beat 
with  anxiety,  and  an  expression  of  intense  interest  was 
depicted  on  every  countenance.  At  last  Mr.  Pricker 
opened  his  trembling  lips,  and  spoke  in  deep  and  hollow 
tones : 

"  They  are  Frenchmen !  yes.  Frenchmen !  "  said  he. 
"It  is  the  new  tailor  sent  for  by  the  king.  He  comes 
with  six  French  assistants,  and  will  work  for  the  king, 
the  princes  and  the  cavaliers  of  the  court.  But  he  is  not 
only  a  tailor  but  also  makes  ladies'  clothing,  and  his  wife 
and  daughter  are  the  most  celebrated  dressmakers  of 
Paris;  they  also  are  accompanied  by  three  female  assist- 
ants, and  expect  to  work  for  the  queen,  the  princesses, 
and  the  entire  court." 

"  But  that  is  impossible,"  exclaimed  his  friends. 
"  The  laws  of  our  guild  protect  us.  No  woman  can  carry 
on  the  business  of  a  tailor." 

"  Nevertheless  they  will  do  so,"  said  Pricker ;  "  the 


278  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

king  has  accorded  them  this  privilege.  Yes,  every  thing 
will  now  be  different,  handsomer  and  better.  The  king 
summons  these  French  dressmakers  to  Berlin,  and  the 
monsters  ask  my  advice.  They  wish  to  know  of  me  how 
they  are  to  demean  themselves  toward  the  members  of  the 
guild.  The  new  French  dressmaker  asks  advice  of 
me,  of  the  court  dressmaker  Pricker !  Ha,  ha,  ha !  is  not 
that  laughable? "  And  Mr.  Pricker  broke  out  into  a  loud, 
wild  laugh,  which  made  his  friends  shudder,  and  then 
sunk  slowly  into  the  arms  of  the  glover.  His  son  Will- 
iam, who  had  been  a  witness  of  this  scene,  hurried  to  his 
father's  assistance,  and  carried  him  into  the  house. 

From  his  carriage  Mr.  Pelissier  looked  proudly  down 
upon  the  poor  tailor.  "  The  good  master  has  fainted," 
said  he  with  an  Olympic  smile.  "  And  he  has  good  reason, 
for  ruin  is  before  him.  He  is  a  lost  man;  for  how  could 
he,  an  unknown  German  tailor,  dare  to  compete  with  Pe- 
lissier, the  son  of  the  celebrated  tailor  of  Louis  the 
Fourteenth?  That  would  evince  an  assurance  and  folly 
with  which  I  could  not  credit  even  a  German  brain." 


CHAPTER    XVin. 

THE   DOUBLE   RENDEZVOUS. 

The  little  maid  of  honor,  Louise  von  Schwerin,  was 
walking  with  quick  steps  up  and  down  her  room;  she 
had  locked  her  door  to  secure  herself  from  interruption. 
She  wished  to  read  once  more  the  mysterious  note  found 
yesterday  in  the  bunch  of  flowers,  and  once  more  to 
meditate  undisturbed  upon  its  contents.  Louise  knew 
the  note  was  from  the  handsome  gardener  Fritz  Wendel; 
from  him  came  the  beautiful  flowers  she  found  daily  upon 


AND  HIS  COURT.  2Y9 

the  sill  of  her  window,  and  he  only  could  have  concealed 
the  note  amongst  them.  There  were  but  a  few  lines,  en- 
treating her  to  meet  him  that  night  at  eight  o'clock,  in 
the  grotto  of  the  conservatory,  where  she  should  learn  an 
important  and  dangerous  secret. 

"  What  can  the  secret  be  ?  "  asked  Louise  of  herself, 
after  reading  the  note  again  and  again.  "  Perhaps,"  she 
said,  with  a  roguish  smile,  "  perhaps  he  thinks  that  his 
love  for  me  is  a  secret.  Dangerous  it  certainly^  is  for 
him  and  for  me,  but  a  secret  it  is  not.  I  am  certain  that 
he  loves  me,  but  it  must  be  very  sweet  to  be  told  so ;  to 
hear  his  lips  confess  at  last  what  until  now  I  have  only 
read  in  those  eloquent  eyes.  Alas!  is  it  not  fearful,  in- 
tolerable, to  wait  so  long  for  a  declaration  of  love?  Two 
months  so  near  each  other,  but  not  one  moment  of  sweet, 
unrestrained  intercourse;  always  hemmed  in  by  this  cold, 
ceremonious,  stupid  court  life;  surrounded  by  spies  and 
eavesdroppers;  never  alone,  never  free.  Is  it  not  terrible 
to  have  a  sweetheart,  and  never  to  have  refused  him  a  kiss, 
because  he  has  never  had  the  opportunity  to  demand  one  ? 
They  say  there  is  rapture  in  the  first  kiss  of  your  lover — 
in  his  first  embrace.  I  must  know  this  for  myself,  that 
they  may  no  longer  laugh  and  say  I  am  a  silly  child 
without  experience.  I  will  have  my  experience!  I  will 
have  my  love  affairs  as  well  as  the  other  ladies  of  the 
court,  only  mine  shall  be  more  extraordinary,  more  ro- 
mantic. To  be  loved  by  a  baron  or  a  count  is  indeed 
commonplace;  but  to  be  adored  by  a  gardener,  who  is 
beautiful  as  the  god  Apollo,  and  whose  obscure  birth  is 
his  only  fault — this  is  original,  this  is  piquant.  Ah, 
Madame  von  Brandt  laughed  at  me  yesterday,  at  my 
stupidity  and  innocence;  she  was  merry  at  my  expense, 
because  I  had  never  been  kissed,  never  received  a  stolen 
embrace,  which  she  declared  to  be  the  most  charming 
event  in  a  woman's  life.  All  the  ladies  laughed  at  me  as 
she  said  this,  and  called  me  an  unbaked  roll  left  out  in  the 


280  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

cold — which  never  felt  the  fire.  They  shall  laugh  at  me 
no  longer,"  cried  Louise,  with  spiteful  tears  in  her  eyes 
and  stamping  her  little  foot.  "  No  one  shall  mock  at  me 
again ;  and  if  they  do,  I  will  tell  them  I  too  have  a  lover ; 
that  I  have  had  a  declaration  of  love,  and  have  received 
my  lover's  first  kiss.  I  must  be  able  to  say  this,  and 
therefore  I  will  meet  Fritz  this  evening  in  the  grotto  of 
the  conservatory."  Even  while  saying  this  she  was  seized 
with  a  cold  trembling;  one  moment  her  heart  stood  still, 
and  then  almost  suffocated  her  with  its  rapid  beating.  A 
soft  voice  seemed  to  warn  her  against  this  imprudence; 
she  seemed  to  see  the  pale  face  of  her  mother,  and  to  hear 
her  living  counsels :  "  Do  not  go,  Louise,  Frit  Wendel 
is  no  lover  for  Louise  von  Schwerin."  Her  guardian 
angel  spread  once  more  his  white  wings  around  her,  long- 
ing to  protect  and  save.  But,  alas!  she  heard  another 
voice,  breathing  flattering  words  and  sweet  promises. 
She  saw  a  beautiful  youth  with  his  soft,  large,  hazel  eyes 
fixed  imploringly  upon  her.  Louise  felt  the  irresistible 
charm  of  the  forbidden,  the  disallowed,  the  dangerous. 
Louise  closed  her  ear  to  the  warning  voice;  her  good 
genius  had  no  power  over  her.  "  I  will  go,"  she  said, 
and  a  rosy  blush  suffused  her  childish  cheeks ;  "  nothing 
shall  prevent  me !  "  Louise  was  now  quite  resolved ;  but 
she  was  not  at  peace  with  herself,  and  from  time  to  time 
she  hoped  some  unexpected  occurrence,  some  unconquer- 
able obstacle,  would  prevent  her  from  taking  this  impru- 
dent step.  No  difficulty  arose;  chance  seemed  to  favor 
her  meeting  with  her  obscure  lover. 

Sophia  Dorothea  was  to  visit  her  daughter-in-law  at 
Schönhausen,  not  as  a  queen,  but  without  pomp  and 
splendor.  The  two  eldest  maids  of  honor  only  would 
accompany  her.  Neither  Louise  von  Schwerin  nor  Laura 
von  Pannewitz  were  to  be  of  the  party.  Sophia  was  glad 
that  at  least  for  a  few  hours  she  would  not  see  the  lovely, 
sad  face,  and  soft,  melancholy  eyes  of  Laura,  nor  hear  the 


AND   HIS   COURT.  281 

low  and  plaintive  tones  of  her  accusing  voice.  The  king 
had  gone  to  Potsdam,  it  was  therefore  unnecessary  to 
watch  Laura.  Indeed,  of  late  the  queen  scarcely  believed 
in  this  love,  of  which  she  had  been  so  confident;  she  had 
tried  in  vain  to  discover  any  trace  of  an  understanding 
between  Laura  and  the  king.  Frederick  scarcely  noticed 
Laura,  and  had  spoken  to  her  but  once  since  that  stormy 
day;  then  he  had  laughingly  asked  her  why  she  was  so 
pale  and  languishing,  and  if  it  was  an  unhappy  love  which 
made  her  look  so  mournful.  Since  that  day  the  queen  no 
longer  believed  in  the  passion  of  the  king  for  Laura, 
and  she  reproached  Madame  von  Brandt  with  having  mis- 
led her. 

Madame  von  Brandt  smiled  mysteriously.  "  I  did  not 
say,  your  majesty,  that  the  king  loved  Laura;  your  sus- 
picions fell  upon  him,  and  I  did  not  undeceive  you." 

"  And  why  not  ?  "  said  the  queen  angrily ;  "  why  did 
you  not  make  known  to  me  the  name  of  Laura's  lover  ?  " 

"  Because  I  had  solemnly  sworn  not  to  disclose  it," 
said  Madame  von  Brandt. 

"  Is  it  not  the  king  ?  then  all  the  better  for  my  poor 
Laura." 

"  Still,  I  venture  to  implore  your  majesty  to  induce 
my  dear  young  friend  to  accept  the  hand  of  Count  Voss; 
she  will  thus  perhaps  be  cured  of  her  unhappy  and  hope- 
less passion." 

Sophia  was  resolved  to  follow  this  advice;  she  there- 
fore drove  to  Schönhausen  to  see  the  young  queen,  and 
consult  with  her  as  to  the  most  efiicacious  means  of  ac- 
complishing this  result.  Louise  von  Schwerin  thought 
the  queen  might  still  change  her  mind  and  command  her 
to  accompany  her;  she  hoped  and  feared  this  at  the  same 
time.  She  would  have  wept  bitterly  at  this  result,  but 
she  knew  it  would  be  best  for  her.  Between  anxiety  and 
hope,  doubts  and  fears,  the  time  passed  slowly. 

"There  rolls  a  carriage  from  the  court,"  said  Louise; 


282  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

she  heard  the  loud  cries  of  the  guard  and  the  beating  of 
the  drums. 

It  was  the  queen  leaving  for  Schönhausen.  Louise 
was  now  free,  now  unobserved;  nothing  could  prevent 
her  from  going  to  the  grotto.  With  trembling  steps  and 
a  quickly  beating  heart  she  slipped  through  the  dark 
alleys  of  the  garden  and  entered  the  conservatory.  All 
was  still  and  wrapped  in  a  sweet  twilight.  The  delight- 
ful odor  of  orange  blossoms  filled  the  place;  which,  like 
the  subtle  vapor  of  opium,  intoxicated  her  senses. 
Breathless  with  fear  and  expectation  she  entered  the 
grotto ;  her  eyes  were  blinded  by  the  sudden  darkness,  and 
she  sank  to  the  ground. 

"  Thank  God,"  she  murmured  softly,  "  I  am  alone,  he 
is  not  here !  I  shall  have  time  to  recover,  and  then  I  can 
return;  I  am  so  frightened — I  ought  not  to  have  come. 
Perhaps  the  ladies  of  the  court  have  arranged  this  practi- 
cal joke  at  my  expense.  Yes,  that  is  it.  It  was  folly  to 
believe  he  would  dare  to  ask  me  to  meet  him;  he  is  too 
timid — too  humble.  Yes,  it  is  a  trap  laid  for  me,  and  I 
have  fallen  into  it." 

She  rose  hastily  to  fly  back  to  the  palace;  but  it  was  too 
late ;  a  strong  arm  was  gently  thrown  around  her  neck,  and 
she  was  drawn  back  to  her  seat.  She  tried  to  free  herself, 
but  could  not;  she  heard  the  loud  beating  of  his  heart, 
which  found  an  echo  in  her  own;  she  felt  his  lips  pressed 
to  hers,  but  her  childish  modesty  was  aroused;  she  found 
she  had  the  wish  and  courage  to  free  herself. 

"  Let  me  go !  "  she  cried  breathlessly ;  "  let  me  go  I 
do  not  hold  me  a  moment!  I  will  go!  I  will  go  this  in- 
stant! How  dare  you  treat  me  in  this  manner?  How 
and  why  did  you  come  ? "  and  Louise,  who  was  now  free, 
remained  standing  to  hear  his  reply. 

"  How  did  I  come  here  ?  "  said  the  handsome  gardener, 
in  a  submissive  but  pleading  tone.  "  Every  night  for 
fotir  weeks  I  have  worked  upon  this  subterranean  alley; 


AND  HIS  COURT.  283 

this  dark  path,  which  should  lead  me  here  unseen.  While 
others  slept  and  dreamed  I  worked;  and  also  dreamed 
with  working  eyes.  Mine  were  happy  dreams.  My  work 
was  done,  and  I  could  reach  this  consecrated  spot  unseen. 
I  saw  in  my  vision  an  angel,  whom  I  adore,  and  to  whom 
I  have  consecrated  every  hour,  every  moment  of  my  life. 
Look,  Mademoiselle,  at  the  opening  behind  that  large 
orange  tree,  that  is  the  way  to  my  paradise;  through  that 
opening  I  can  reach  a  staircase,  leading  to  a  small  cellar; 
another  pair  of  steps  takes  me  to  a  trap-door  leading 
directly  to  my  room.  You  can  well  imagine  it  required 
time,  and  strength,  and  courage  to  prepare  this  way." 

Louise  approached  the  opening  curiously.  This 
strange  path  made  for  her  sake  afiected  her  more  than  all 
Fritz  Wendel's  words.  Only  a  mighty  love  could  have 
moved  a  man  in  the  darkness  and  alone  to  such  a  task. 
Louise  wished  to  conquer  her  confusion  and  to  hide  her 
embarrassment  with  light  mockery  and  jesting, 

"  Truly,"  she  said,  laughing,  "  this  is  a  dark  and  mys- 
terious passage,  but  any  one  with  a  light  would  discover 
it.  You  know  her  majesty  has  the  saloon  illuminated 
occasionally  in  the  evening,  and  takes  her  tea  here." 

"  No  one  will  find  this  opening,"  said  the  gardener. 
He  pushed  the  wooden  tub,  in  which  the  orange-tree  grew, 
with  his  foot;  it  gave  way  to  a  slight  touch,  and  turned 
round  over  the  opening.  "  Look,  Mademoiselle,  the  tree 
covers  my  secret." 

"  Open  it !  open  it !  I  pray  you,  I  must  see  it !  " 

"  I  will  do  so  if  you  promise  me  not  to  leave  me  im- 
mediately." 

"  I  promise !  I  promise !  " 

Fritz  Wendel  pushed  back  the  orange-tree,  then  lift- 
ing Louise  gently  in  his  arms,  he  carried  her  to  the  grass- 
plot,  and  seating  her,  he  threw  himself  on  his  knees  be- 
fore her,  and  bowed,  as  if  in  adoration. 

"  You  are  my  queen,  the  sovereign  of  my  soul  I     I  lay 


284  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

myself  at  your  feet,  as  your  slave.  You  alone  can  decide 
my  fate.  You  can  raise  me  to  the  heaven  of  heavens, 
or  cast  me  in  the  dust.  Say  only  the  little  words  '  I  love 
you ! '  this  will  give  me  strength  and  power  to  brave  the 
whole  world.  I  will  acquire  fame  and  honor,  and  at  no 
distant  day  before  God  and  the  whole  world  I  will  de- 
mand your  hand !  If  you  say,  '  Remain  where  you  are,  at 
my  feet  is  your  proper  place ;  I  despise  the  poor  gardener, 
who  dares  to  love  the  high-born  lady ! '  then  I  will  die ;  if 
I  live  I  shall  go  mad.  My  brain  reels  at  the  thought  of 
such  wretchedness.  I  can  die  now,  and  bless  you  in  dy- 
ing; if  I  live  in  my  madness  I  shall  curse  you  for  your 
cruelty." 

He  ceased,  and  raised  his  handsome  face  pleadingly 
to  hers.  Louise  was  speechless;  she  was  intoxicated  with 
the  music  of  his  voice  and  impassioned  words. 

"  You  do  not  answer  me !  Oh !  before  you  cast  me  oS 
consider  my  agony.  The  heart  you  despise  contains  a 
treasure  of  love  and  tenderness.  No  other  man  can  love 
you  as  I  do.  You  are  my  light  and  life.  You  are  beauti- 
ful and  fascinating;  many  will  love  you  and  seek  your 
hand.  Who  but  the  poor  gardener  will  die  for  you  if  you 
say  no?  To  me  you  are  more  than  the  most  lovely  of 
women,  you  are  a  goddess!  Oh,  you  know  not  what  you 
have  already  made  of  me !  what  you  will  still  make  of  me ! 
When  I  saw  you  for  the  first  time  I  was  a  poor,  ignorant 
gardener,  loving  nothing  but  my  flowers ;  knowing  no  lan- 
guage. The  great  book  of  nature  was  my  only  study. 
Since  that  glorious  day  in  which  I  looked  upon  you  as  a 
radiant,  heavenly  vision,  I  have  realized  my  poverty;  I 
have  blushed  at  my  ignorance.  My  life  has  been  one  great 
effort  to  make  myself  worthy  of  you.  Now,  Louise,  com- 
mand me.  What  shall  I  do?  What  shall  I  become?  If 
you  do  not  despise  and  laugh  at  my  love,  if  you  love  me  a 
little  in  return,  if  you  have  hope,  courage,  and  patience  to 
wait,  I  wiU  be  worthy  of  you ! " 


AND  HIS  COURT.  285 

"  Alas ! "  said  Louise,  "  this  is  the  dream  of  a  mad- 
man. The  king  and  my  noble  and  proud  family  would 
never  consent  that  I  should  become  your  wife." 

"  As  to  the  king,"  said  Fritz,  carelessly,  "  I  would  find 
means  to  obtain  his  consent,  and  honor  and  distinction 
at  his  hands." 

"  I  understand,"  said  Louise,  "  the  secret  you  intended 
to  tell  me — tell  it  now,"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  child's 
eager  curiosity. 

"  Listen,"  said  he,  rising  from  his  knees — "  listen,  but 
do  not  let  us  betray  ourselves  by  loud  words  or  exclama- 
tions." 

"I  hear  steps,"  said  Louise.  "Oh,  if  we  should  be 
discovered ! " 

"Fear  nothing;  look  there,  Louise!"  Her  eye  fol- 
lowed the  direction  of  his  hand. 

Under  the  laurel-tree  sat  Laura  von  Paimewitz,  and 
before  her  knelt  Prince  Augustus  William,  radiant  with 
happiness,  and  covering  her  hands  with  kisses. 

"Laura,  my  bride,  my  darling,  when  will  the  day 
come  in  which  I  can  call  you  mine  to  all  eternity  ? " 

"That  day  will  come  when  I  am  dead,"  said  Laura, 
with  a  sad  smile.  "Yes,  my  prince,  only  when  I  am 
dead  shall  I  be  free  to  love  you,  and  to  pray  for 
you.  My  freed  spirit  shall  hover  around  you  as 
your  guardian  angel,  and  protect  you  from  all  dan- 
gers. Oh,  if  I  could  die  now,  and  fulfil  this  noble  mis- 
sion!" 

Louise  was  so  absorbed  in  this  scene  that  she  did  not 
notice  Fritz  Wendel  as  he  drew  near  and  again  threw 
his  arm  around  her. 

"  Look  at  them,"  he  murmured ;  "  he  is  a  royal  prince, 
and  she  only  a  poor  maid  of  honor;  he  loves  her,  and 
she  accepts  his  love,  and  fears  no  shame." 

Louise  laid  her  hand  impatiently  upon  his  lips  and 
whispered,  "Hush!"  he  covered  her  hand  with  kisses; 

MuHLBACH  13  Vol.  1 


286  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

they  listened  with  subdued  breathing  to  the  pure  and 
ardent  vows  of  the  two  lovers. 

For  one  moment  Laura,  carried  away  by  her  own  feel- 
ings and  the  earnest  words  of  her  lover,  allowed  him  to 
press  his  lips  to  her  cheek,  and  returned  his  vows  of  love 
and  constancy.  But  at  this  moment  Louise  heard  the 
soft  voice  of  Laura  entreating  her  lover  to  leave  her,  and 
not  to  make  her  blush  for  herself. 

"  Promise  me,"  she  cried,  "  never  again  to  embrace 
me;  our  love  must  remain  pure,  and  only  when  we  fear 
not  God's  holy  eye,  dare  we  pray  to  Him  for  assistance. 
Let  us  retain  the  right  to  shed  innocent  tears  over  our  un- 
happy love,  and  lay  it  as  a  sacrifice  at  the  foot  of  God's 
throne  in  that  day  when  the  world  shall  separate  and  de- 
spise us." 

"  No  one  shall  dare  to  do  that,  Laura ;  you  are  my 
future  wife;  I  shall  be  ever  near  to  defend  you  with  my 
life's  blood !  But  I  promise  what  you  ask ;  I  will  restrain 
my  heart;  only  in  dreams  will  I  embrace  you;  I  swear 
this,  my  beloved.  But  the  day  will  come  when  you  will 
cancel  this  vow — the  day  when  I  will  claim  you  before 
God  and  man  as  my  wife !  " 

Laura  took  his  hand  with  a  sweet,  confiding  smile :  "  I 
thank  you,  darling,  I  thank  you,  but  now  we  must  part." 

"  Part !  alas,  we  shall  not  meet  again  for  weeks.  I 
am  commanded  to  accompany  the  king  on  a  pleasure 
trip;  for  me  there  is  but  one  earthly  pleasure,  to  see  you 
— to  be  at  your  side." 

"  Go,"  she  said,  smiling ;  "  go  without  fear ;  we  can 
never  forget  each  other;  however  widely  separated,  you 
are  always  before  me;  I  am  always  with  you,  although 
you  see  me  not." 

"Yes,  Laura,  there  is  not  one  moment  of  my  life  in 
which  I  do  not  see  and  hear  you ! " 

"  Well,  then,  go  cheerfully  with  the  king.  Our  hearts 
imderstand  each  other;  our  souls  are  inseparable." 


'AND  HIS  COURT.  287 

The  prince  took  her  hand  and  pressed  it  to  his  heart, 
then  silently  they  left  the  saloon. 

Louise  had  long  since  freed  herself  from  her  lover,  and 
she  now  arose,  resolved  to  return  to  the  palace.  Fritz 
Wendel  tried  to  detain  her,  but  the  weak  and  foolish 
child  had  gathered  courage  from  the  modest  words  and 
dignified  example  of  Laura. 

"  If  you  touch  me  again,  you  have  seen  me  for  the  last 
time !  I  will  never  again  return  to  this  grotto !  "  Fritz 
Wendel  was  encouraged  by  her  words;  he  had  not  asked 
her  to  return,  and  she  had  half  promised  to  do  so. 

"  I  will  not  dare  to  touch  you  again,"  he  said,  humbly; 
"  but  will  you  not  promise  me  to  come  again  ?  " 

'•'Well,  I  suppose  I  shall  have  to  come  again  to  hear 
the  end  of  poor  Laura's  romance." 

"  This  romance  can  be  of  great  use  to  us,"  he  said, 
seizing  her  hand  and  pressing  it  to  his  lips ;  "  if  made- 
moiselle accepts  my  love  and  allows  me  to  hope  I  may  one 
day  become  her  husband,  I  will  sell  this  secret  to  the  king, 
and  thus  obtain  his  consent." 

"  You  would  not  be  so  cruel  as  to  betray  them  to  the 
king?" 

"  Yes,  there  is  nothing  I  would  not  do  to  obtain  your 
hand." 


288  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 


BOOK  III. 
CHAPTER  L 

THE  INTRIGUING  COURTIERS. 

"You  are  right,"  said  Baron  Pöllnitz,  "yes,  you  are 
right,  dear  Fredersdorf ;  this  is  not  the  way  to  vanquish 
our  Hercules  or  to  influence  him.  He  has  no  heart,  and 
is  not  capable  of  love,  and  I  verily  believe  he  despises 
women." 

"  He  does  not  despise  them,"  said  Fredersdorf,  "  he  is 
wearied  with  them,  which  is  far  worse.  Women  are  al- 
ways too  ready  to  meet  him;  too  many  hearts  have  been 
given  him  unasked;  no  woman  will  ever  have  power  over 
him." 

"  How,  what  then,  my  dear  friend  ? "  cried  Pöllnitz. 
"  There  are  means  to  tame  every  living  creature ;  the 
elephant  and  the  royal  lion  can  be  tamed,  they  become 
under  skilful  hands  gentle,  patient,  and  obedient:  is 
there  no  way  to  tame  this  king  of  beasts  and  hold  him 
in  bondage?  Unless  we  can  ensnare  him,  we  will  be  less 
than  nothing,  subject  to  his  arbitrary  temper,  and  con- 
demned to  obey  his  will.  Acknowledge  that  this  is  not 
an  enviable  position;  it  does  not  correspond  with  the 
proud  and  ambitious  hopes  we  have  both  been  for  some 
time  encouraging." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  when  the  king's  chamberlain  and  a 
cunning  old  courtier  like  myself  unite  our  forces  the 


AND  HIS  COURT.  289 

royal  game  can  escape  our  artful  and  well-arranged 
nets?" 

"  Dear  Fredersdorf,  this  must  not,  this  shall  not  be. 
It  would  be  an  everlasting  shame  upon  us  both." 

"  What  an  unheard-of  enormity,  a  king  without  a 
powerful  and  influential  favorite ! " 

"  Frederick  shall  have  two,  and  as  these  places  are 
vacant,  it  is  but  natural  that  we  should  strive  to  occupy 
them." 

"  Yes,"  said  Fredersdorf,  "  we  will  seize  upon  them 
and  maintain  our  position.  You  called  the  king  a  young 
Hercules — ^well,  this  Hercules  must  be  tamed." 

"  Through  love  of  Omphale." 

"ITo,  not  exactly,  but  Omphale  must  lead  him  into  a 
life  of  luxury,  and  put  him  to  sleep  by  voluptuous  feasts. 
Call  to  mind  how  the  Eoman  Emperor  Heliogabalus 
killed  the  proud  and  ambitious  senators  who  wished  to 
curtail  his  absolute  power." 

"  I  am  not  so  learned  as  you  are,  my  dear  friend,  and 
I  confess  without  blushing  that  I  know  nothing  of  Helio- 
gabalus." 

"  Listen,  then :  Heliogabalus  was  weary  of  being  but 
the  obedient  functionary  of  the  senate;  he  wished  to  rule, 
and  to  have  that  power  which  the  senate  claimed  as  its 
own.  He  kept  his  ambitious  desires  to  himself,  however, 
and  showed  the  senators  a  contented  and  submissive  face. 
One  day  he  invited  them  to  a  splendid  feast  at  his 
villa;  he  placed  before  them  the  most  costly  meats  and 
the  choicest  wines.  They  were  sitting  around  this  lux- 
urious table,  somewhat  excited  by  drink,  when  the  em- 
peror arose  and  said  with  a  peculiar  smile :  '  I  must  go 
now  to  prepare  for  you  an  agreeable  surprise  and  practi- 
cal joke,  which  you  will  confess  has  the  merit  of  origi- 
nality.' He  left  the  room,  and  the  tipsy  senators  did  not 
observe  that  the  doors  were  locked  and  bolted  from  with- 
out.    They  continued  to  drink  and  sing  merrily;  sud- 


290  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

denly  a  glass  door  in  the  ceiling  was  opened,  and  the 
voice  of  Heliogabalus  was  heard,  saying :  '  You  were 
never  satisfied  with  your  power  and  glory,  you  were  al- 
vs^ays  aspiring  after  new  laurels;  this  noble  thirst  shall 
now  be  satisfied.'  A  torrent  of  laurel  wreaths  and 
branches  now  fell  upon  the  senators.  At  first  they 
laughed,  and  snatched  jestingly  at  the  flying  laurels. 
The  most  exquisite  flowers  were  now  added,  and  there 
seemed  to  be  no  end  to  the  pelting  storm.  They  cried 
out,  '  Enough,  enough,'  in  vain ;  the  wreaths  and  bou- 
quets still  poured  upon  them  in  unceasing  streams;  the 
floor  was  literally  a  bed  of  roses.  At  last,  terror  took 
possession  of  them;  they  wished  to  escape,  and  rushed  to 
the  doors,  but  they  were  immovable.  Through  the  sea  of 
flowers,  which  already  reached  their  knees,  they  waded  to 
the  window,  but  they  were  in  the  second  story,  and  below 
they  saw  the  Roman  legions  with  their  sharp  weapons 
pointed  in  the  air.  Flight  was  impossible;  they  pleaded 
wildly  for  mercy,  but  the  inexorable  stream  of  flowers 
continued  to  flow.  Higher  and  higher  rose  the  walls 
around  them;  they  could  no  longer  even  plead  for  pity; 
they  were  literally  buried  in  laurels.  At  last  nothing  was 
to  be  seen  but  a  vast  bed  of  roses,  of  which  not  even  a  fra- 
grant leaf  was  stirred  by  a  passing  breeze.  Heliogabalus 
had  not  murdered  his  senators;  he  had  suffocated  them 
with  sweets,  that  was  all.  Well,  what  do  you  think  of 
my  story  ?  "  said  Fredersdorf . 

"  It  is  full  of  interest,  and  Heliogabalus  'must  have 
been  poetical;  but  I  do  not  see  the  connection  between 
the  emperor  and  ourselves." 

"  You  do  not  ? "  said  his  friend  impatiently ;  "  well, 
let  us  follow  his  example.  We  will  intoxicate  this  mighty 
king  with  enervating  pleasures,  we  will  tempt  him  with 
wine  and  women,  we  will  stifle  him  with  flowers." 

"  But  he  has  no  taste  for  them,"  said  Pöllnitz, 
sighing. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  29\ 

**  He  does  not  care  for  the  beauty  of  women,  but  he  has 
other  dangerous  tastes;  he  has  no  heart,  but  he  has  a 
palate;  he  does  not  care  for  the  love  of  women,  but  he 
enjoys  good  living — that  will  make  one  link  in  his  fetters. 
Then  he  loves  pomp  and  splendor;  he  has  so  long  been 
forced  to  live  meanly  that  wealth  will  intoxicate  him; 
he  will  wish  to  lavish  honors  and  rain  gold  upon  his  peo- 
ple. Frederick  William  has  stowed  away  millions;  we 
will  help  the  son  to  scatter  them." 

"  This  will  be  a  new  and  thrillingly  agreeable  pas- 
time, in  the  ordering  of  which  he  could  not  have  a  better 
adviser  than  yourself,  baron." 

"  While  Frederick  and  yourself  are  building  new  pal- 
aces and  planning  new  amusements,  I  will  rule,  and  help 
him  to  bear  the  burden  of  state  affairs." 

"  You  will  help  him  to  scatter  millions,  and  I  will  col- 
lect from  the  good  Prussians  new  millions  for  him  to  scat- 
ter. It  is  to  be  hoped  that  some  heavy  drops  from  this 
golden  shower  will  fall  into  my  purse,"  said  Pöllnitz. 
"  My  finances  are  in  an  unhealthy  state,  and  my  landlord 
threatens  to  sell  my  furniture  and  my  jewels,  because  for 
more  than  a  year  I  have  not  paid  my  rent.  You  see  now, 
Fredersdorf,  that  I  must  have  that  house  in  Jäger  Street. 
I  count  upon  it  so  surely  that  I  have  already  borrowed  a 
few  thousand  dollars  from  some  confiding  noble  souls, 
whom  I  have  convinced  that  the  house  is  mine." 

"  You  shall  have  it,"  said  Fredersdorf ;  "  the  king  will 
give  it  to  you  as  a  reward  for  the  plans  you  have  drawn 
for  the  new  palaces."  • 

"  Has  he  seen  them  ?  " 

"Yes,  and  approves  them.  The  papers  are  in  his 
desk,  and  need  but  his  royal  signature." 

"  Ah ! "  said  Pöllnitz,  "  if  they  were  but  signed  I 
What  a  glorious  life  would  commence  here!  we  would 
realize  the  Arabian  Nights;  and  Europe  would  gaze  with 
dazzled  eyes  at  the  splendor   and  magnificence  of  our 


292  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

court.  How  vexed  the  treasurer,  Boden,  will  be  when  the 
king  commands  him  to  disburse  for  our  revels  and  vani- 
ties the  millions  which  he  helped  the  late  king  to  hoard 
together  for  far  different  purposes!  This  Boden,"  said 
PöUnitz  thoughtfully,  "will  be  our  most  dangerous  op- 
ponent: you  may  believe  this;  I  am  somewhat  versed  in 
physiognomy.  I  have  studied  his  countenance;  he  is  a 
bold,  determined  man,  who,  when  irritated,  would  even 
brave  the  king.  All  the  other  ministers  agree  with  our 
plans,  and  will  not  stand  in  our  way.  They  are  not  dan- 
gerous; I  have  made  a  compromise  with  them;  they  have 
resolved  to  think  all  we  do  right.  But  Boden  was  in- 
flexible; he  would  not  understand  my  secret  signs  or 
hints;  flattery  has  no  power  over  him,  and  he  is  alike  in- 
different to  promises  and  threats.  All  my  dexterously 
aimed  arrows  rebounded  from  the  rough  coat-of-mail 
with  which  his  honesty  has  clothed  him." 

"  Do  not  concern  yourself  about  Boden,"  cried  Fre- 
dersdorf,  "  he  is  a  lost  man ;  he  falls  without  any  aid 
from  us.  The  king  hates  him,  and  is  only  waiting  for 
an  opportunity  to  dismiss  him.  Have  you  not  noticed 
how  contemptuously  he  treats  him — never  speaks  to  him 
or  notices  him,  while  he  loves  to  chat  with  his  other  min- 
isters? Frederick  did  not  dismiss  him  from  office  at 
once,  because  the  old  king  loved  him.  Boden  was  his 
treasurer  and  confidential  friend,  from  whom  he  had  no 
secrets;  the  king  has  therefore  been  patient;  but  his  sun 
is  set,  of  that  you  may  be  convinced.  The  king,  though 
he  seems  not  to  notice  him,  watches  him  closely;  one  in- 
cautious movement  and  he  will  be  instantly  dismissed. 
This  may  happen  this  very  day." 

"How?"  said  Pöllnitz. 

"  The  king  has  adopted  the  plan,  which  he  had  ordered 
Knobelsdorf  to  sketch  for  him,  for  the  new  palace  of  the 
dowager-queen.  It  is  to  be  a  colossal  wonder — the  capitol 
of  the  north !  the  building  of  which  wiU  cost  from  four  to 


AND  HIS  COURT.  293 

five  millions!  These  millions  must  come  from  Boden's 
treasury;  he  must  respect  the  royal  order.  If  he  does,  he 
is  an  unscrupulous  officer,  and  the  king  can  no  longer  put 
faith  in  him.  If  he  dares  oppose  the  royal  command,  he 
is  a  traitor,  and  the  king,  who  demands  silent  and  un- 
conditional obedience  from  his  officers,  will  dismiss  him. 
The  king  feels  this  himself,  and  when  he  gave  me  these 
documents,  he  said,  with  a  peculiar  smile,  '  This  is  a  bitter 
pill  for  Boden — we  will  see  if  he  is  able  to  swallow  it.' 
You  see,  now,  that  our  good  Boden  stands  between  two 
pitfalls,  from  both  of  which  he  cannot  hope  to  escape 
alive." 

"  Ah,  if  this  is  true,"  said  Pöllnitz,  gayly,  "  our  suc- 
cess is  assured.  The  house  in  Jäger  Street  will  be  mine, 
and  you  will  be  an  influential  minister.  We  will  govern 
the  ruler  of  Prussia,  and  be  mighty  in  the  land.  Only 
think  how  all  the  courtiers  will  bow  before  us !  The  king 
will  do  nothing  without  our  advice.  I  will  make  more 
debts.  I  will  be  as  generous  as  Fouquet,  and  as  lavish  and 
luxurious  as  Lucullus ;  and  if  at  last  all  my  resources  fail, 
I  will  do  as  Heliogabalus  did;  if  my  creditors  become 
troublesome,  the  old  Roman  shall  teach  me  how  to  silence 
them  by  some  refinement  in  hospitality." 

"  And  I,  the  lowly  born,"  said  Fredersdorf ,  "  who  have 
so  long  been  a  slave,  will  now  have  power  and  influence. 
The  king  loves  me;  I  will  be  a  true  and  faithful  servant 
to  him.  I  will  be  inflexible  to  those  who  have  scorned 
me;  those  proud  counts  and  barons,  who  have  passed  me 
by  unnoticed,  shall  now  sue  to  me  in  vain.  The  king's 
heart  is  mine,  and  I  will  be  sustained  by  him.  This 
tamed  lion  shall  be  drawn  by  prancing  steeds  in  gilded 
chariots;  we  will  anoint  him  with  honey  and  feed  him 
with  nightingales'  tongues;  he  shall  bathe  in  Lachrymaa 
Christi,  and  all  that  the  most  fantastic  dream  and  the 
wildest  flights  of  fancy  can  imagine  shall  be  set  before 
him.    Those  good  epicurean  Romans,  who  threw  young 


294  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

maidens  into  their  ponds  for  their  eels  to  feed  npon,  in 
order  that  their  meat  might  be  tender  and  juicy,  were 
sickly  sentimentalists  in  comparison  with  what  I  shall 
be — "  he  stopped,  for  the  door  opened,  and  Boden,  their 
hated  enemy,  stood  before  them.  They  looked  upon  him 
indifferently,  as  a  doomed  adversary.  Boden  approached 
quietly,  and  said  to  Fredersdorf : 

"  Have  the  kindness  to  announce  me  to  his  majesty." 

"  Has  his  majesty  sent  for  you  ? "  said  Fredersdorf, 
carelessly. 

"  He  has  not  sent  for  me,  but  please  say  to  his  majesty 
that  I  am  come  to  speak  with  him  on  important  busi- 
ness." 

Fredersdorf  stepped  into  the  adjoining  room,  and  re- 
turned quickly,  saying  with  a  triumphant  and  malicious 
smile :  "  The  king  says  he  will  send  for  you  when  he 
wishes  to  speak  with  you.  These  were  his  exact  words; 
accommodate  yourself  to  them  in  future." 

The  minister's  countenance  was  perfectly  calm;  his 
lip  slightly  trembled;  but  he  spoke  in  his  usual  grave, 
composed  manner :  "  The  king  may  not  desire  to  see  me ; 
but  I,  as  an  officer  and  minister  of  state,  have  the  most 
urgent  reasons  for  desiring  an  audience.  Go  and  teU 
him  this." 

"  These  are  proud,  disrespectful  words,"  said  Pöllnitz, 
smiling  blandly. 

"Which  I  will  faithfully  report  to  his  majesty,"  said 
Fredersdorf. 

"  I  fear  your  excellency  will  pay  dearly  for  this 
speech,"  whispered  Pöllnitz. 

"Fear  nothing  for  me,"  said  Boden,  with  a  quiet 
smile. 

"His  majesty  awaits  you,"  said  Fredersdorf,  still 
standing  at  the  door.  Boden  walked  proudly  by  Freders- 
dorf, casting  upon  him  a  look  of  contempt,  who  returned 
it  with  a  mocking  grin. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  296 

"  The  fox  is  caught,"  he  whispered,  as  the  door  closed 
upon  him. 

"  Do  you  think  so  ?  "  said  Pöllnitz.  "  I  am  surprised 
and  somewhat  anxious  at  the  king's  receiving  him." 

"  Fear  nothing,  he  is  but  received  to  be  dismissed. 
The  king's  eye  flamed,  and  his  brow,  usually  so  clear,  was 
heavily  clouded;  this  betokens  storms;  may  they  break 
upon  Boden's  devoted  head!  Come,  let  us  watch  the 
tempest;  there  is  nothing  more  instructive  than  a  royal 
hurricane." 

"  Let  us  profit  by  the  occasion,  then." 

The  two  courtiers  slipped  noiselessly  to  the  door  and 
pushed  the  curtains  carefully  to  one  side,  so  as  to  see  and 
hear  clearly. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE  KING  AND  SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY. 

The  king  received  the  secretary  with  a  solemn  and 
earnest  bow.  He  stood  leaning  upon  his  writing-table, 
his  arms  folded,  and  his  glance  fixed  upon  Boden.  Many 
a  bold  man  had  trembled  at  the  eagle  glance  of  Frederick, 
but  Boden  looked  up  clear,  and  betrayed  neither  con- 
fusion nor  hesitation. 

"  You  insisted  positively  upon  seeing  me,"  said  Fred- 
erick, sternly ;  "  let  me  hear  now  what  you  have  to 
say." 

"  I  have  much  to  say,  and  I  must  bespeak  patience  and 
indulgence;  I  fear  that  my  words  will  seem  dry  and 
tedious  to  your  majesty." 

"  Speak ;  I  will  myself  determine  how  far  I  can  grant 
you  patience  and  indulgence." 


296  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Your  majesty  is  a  fiery  but  noble  and  learned  gentle- 
man; besides  this,  you  are  young,  and  youth  has  a  daring 
will — can  renew  the  old  and  limibering  wheel  and  push 
the  world  forward  in  her  progress.  Your  majesty  will, 
can,  and  must  do  this;  God  has  given  you  not  only  the 
power,  but  the  intellect  and  strength.  Your  majesty  will 
change  many  things  and  inaugurate  new  measures.  The 
old  times  must  give  way  before  the  new  era.  I  saw  that  the 
first  time  I  looked  into  my  young  king's  eye — in  that  bold 
eye  in  which  is  written  a  great  and  glorious  future  for 
Prussia;  I  understood  that  we,  who  had  served  the 
sainted  king,  might  not  appear  worthy  or  young  enough 
to  carry  out  the  purposes  of  the  royal  successor  of  Fred- 
erick William.  I  waited,  also,  for  my  dismissal;  but  it 
came  not.  Your  majesty  did  not  remove  me  from  my 
office,  and  I  confess  this  gave  me  pleasure.  I  said  to 
myself,  *  The  king  will  not  destroy,  he  will  improve ;  and 
if  he  believes  that  his  father's  old  servants  can  help  him 
in  that,  so  will  we  serve  him  and  carry  out  his  purposes 
with  a  holy  zeal.  I  know  the  secret  machinery  of  state. 
The  king  concealed  nothing  from  me.  I  will  explain  all 
this  to  the  young  king;  I  will  make  him  acquainted  with 
this  complicated  and  widely  spread  power;  I  will  have 
the  honor  to  make  known  to  him  my  knowledge  of  the 
revenue  and  its  uses.  I  rejoiced  in  the  hope  that  I  may 
yet  serve  my  fatherland.'  " 

"  These  are  very  friendly  and  perhaps  well-meant 
propositions  which  you  are  making  me,"  said  the  king, 
with  a  light  laugh.  "  Happily,  however,  I  do  not  need 
them.  I  know  already  what  is  necessary,  and  as  I  have 
found  amongst  the  papers  of  my  father  all  the  accounts 
of  the  states-general,  you  can  understand  that  I  know  ex- 
actly what  I  receive  as  revenue  and  what  I  am  to  disburse. 
Besides  all  this,  I  will  not  fatigue  myself  in  minute  de- 
tails on  this  subject;  I  do  not  deem  it  of  sufficient  im- 
portance.   My  time  is  much  occupied,  and  I  have  more 


AND  ms  COURT.  297 

important  and  better  things  to  do  than  to  weary  myself 
over  dull  questions  of  finance." 

"  No,  majesty,"  cried  Boden,  "  you  have  nothing  more 
important  or  better  to  do.  The  finances  are  the  blood- 
vessels of  the  State,  and  the  whole  body  would  sicken  and 
die  if  these  vessels  should  be  choked  or  irregular  in  their 
action." 

"  Then  must  we  call  the  lancet  to  our  aid,"  said  the 
king.  "  I  am  the  physician  of  this  revenue,  you  are  the 
surgeon  only  when  I  need  the  lancet ;  then  will  you  strike 
the  vein,  and  allow  so  much  golden  blood  to  flow  as  I 
think  good  and  necessary." 

"No,  this  will  I  not  do!"  said  Boden,  resolutely; 
"your  majesty  can  dismiss  me,  but  you  cannot  force  me 
to  act  against  my  conscience." 

"  Boden !  "  cried  the  king  in  so  loud  and  angry  a 
tone  that  even  the  two  listening  courtiers  trembled  and 
turned  pale. 

"  This  man  is  already  a  corpse,"  whispered  PöUnitz. 
"I  already  smell,  even  here,  the  refreshing  fragrance 
of  his  body.  We  will  bury  him,  and  be  his  smiling 
heirs." 

"  Look,  look  at  the  fearful  glance  of  the  king ! "  whis- 
pered Fredersdorf;  "his  eyes  crush  the  over-bold,  even 
as  the  glance  of  Jove  crushed  the  Titans.  Yes,  you  are 
right,  Boden  is  a  dead  man.  The  king  is  so  filled  with 
scorn,  he  has  lost  the  power  of  speech." 

"  No,  he  opens  his  lips,  let  us  listen." 

"Boden,"  said  the  king,  "you  forget  that  you  speak 
with  the  son,  and  not  with  the  father.  You  were  the  fa- 
vorite of  Frederick  William,  but  you  are  not  mine ;  and  I 
will  not  suffer  this  inconsiderate  and  self-confident  man- 
ner.   Remember  that,  and  go  on." 

"  So  long  as  I  am  in  your  service,"  said  the  minister, 
with  a  slight  bow,  "  it  is  my  first  and  my  holiest  duty  to 
express  my  opinions  freely  to  your  majesty,  to  give  you 


298  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

counsel  according  to  the  best  of  my  strength  and  my 
ability.  It  remains  with  your  majesty  to  reject  my  ad- 
vice and  to  act  differently,  but  still  according  to  the  con- 
stitution of  the  State." 

"  The  first  duty  of  a  servant  is  to  give  his  counsel  only 
when  it  is  demanded;  as  I  did  not  desire  yours,  you 
might  have  spared  yourself  this  trouble." 

"  Your  majesty  did  not  ask  my  counsel,  that  is  true," 
said  the  minister ;  "  you  only  remembered  me  when  you 
had  commands  to  give  as  to  the  emptying  of  the  royal 
treasury.  Tour  majesty  thought  you  had  no  use  for 
your  finance  minister,  as  you  had  all  the  papers  relating 
to  the  states  general.  Every  one  of  your  majesty's  min- 
isters is  acquainted  with  these  matters,  and  yet  they 
would  not  feel  able  to  decide  the  question  of  the  disburs- 
ing of  the  kingly  revenue,  to  say  under  what  circum- 
stances, and  comformably  to  the  powers  of  the  States, 
this  revenue  should  be  disposed  of.  This,  my  king,  re- 
quires a  special  knowledge,  and  I,  as  minister  of  finance, 
dare  boast  that  I  understand  this  matter." 

The  king's  brow  became  more  and  more  clouded. 
"  That  may  be,"  said  he,  impatiently,  "  but  I  am  not  will- 
ing to  be  restrained  in  my  operations  by  narrow-minded 
laws;  I  will  not  live  meanly  like  my  father,  and  think 
only  of  gathering  millions  together." 

"  'Nor  did  King  Frederick  William  live  for  that,"  said 
the  minister  boldly ;  "  he  lived  economically,  but  where 
there  was  want,  he  knew  how  to  give  with  a  truly  royal 
hand;  this  is  proved  by  the  provinces,  by  the  cities  and 
villages  which  he  built  out  of  dust  and  ashes ;'  this  is 
proved  by  the  half  million  of  happy  men  who  now  inhabit 
them  in  peace  and  comfort.  More  than  three  millions  of 
dollars  did  the  king  give  to  Lithuania,  which  was  a  howl- 
ing wilderness,  filled  with  famine  and  pestilence,  until 
relieved  by  the  generosity  of  their  monarch;  and  while 
doing  this  he  watched  with  close  attention  the  accounts 


AND  HIS  COURT.  29'd 

of  his  cook  and  spent  but  little  money  on  the  royal  table. 
No !  The  king  did  not  only  gather  millions  together;  he 
knew  how  to  disburse  them  worthily."  ^        ^^ 

"This  man  must  be  crazy,"  whispered  PöUnitz;  he 
dares  to  praise  the  dead  king  at  the  expense  and  in  the 
teeth  of  the  living;  that  is  indeed  bold  folly,  and  must  . 
lead  to  his  destruction.  The  king  has  turned  away  from 
him;  see,  he  goes  to  the  window  and  looks  without;  he 
will 'give  himself  time  to  master  his  scorn  and  conquer 
the  desire  which  he  feels  to  crush  this  daring  worm  to 
the  earth.  I  tell  you,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "I  would  give  Bo- 
den  a  hundred  glasses  of  champagne  from  my  cellar  m 
the  Jäger  Street  if  I  could  see  the  king  punish  him  with 

his  own  hands."  ,      i     i    j     x 

The  king  turned  again  to  the  minister,  who  looked  at 
him  like  a  man  who  dared  all  and  was  resigned  to  all;  he 
thought,  with  Pöllnitz  and  Fredersdorf,  that  the  kmg 
would  crush  him  in  his  wrath.  But  Frederick's  face  was 
calm,  and  a  strangely  mild  glance  beamed  in  his  eye 

"  Well,  if  you  praise  my  father  for  disbursing  millions, 
so  will  you  also  be  content  with  me,  for  it  is  my  purpose 
zealously  to  imitate  him.  I  will  begin  by  putting  my 
court  upon  a  truly  royal  footing;  I  will  live  as  it  becomes 
the  King  of  Prussia.  The  necessary  preparations  are  al- 
ready commenced,  and  a  detailed  plan  lies  now  upon  the 
table;  I  will  sign  it  to-day." 

"May  I  read  it,  your  majesty?"  said  Boden. 
The  king  nodded.    Boden  took  the  paper  and  glanced 
hastily  over  it,  while  the  king  folded  his  arms  behind  him 
and  walked  backwards  and  forwards.  ^       ^^ 

"  I  find  the  king  wondrously  wearisome  and  patient, 
murmured  Fredersdorf;  "it  is  not  his  manner  generally 
to  withhold  so  long  his  crushing  glances." 

"And  with  what  derisive  laughter  that  man  there 
reads  my  plan!  "  said  Pöllnitz,  gnashing  his  teeth;  "  truly 
one  might  think  he  was  making  sport  of  it." 


300  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Have  you  read  it  ?  "  said  the  king,  standing  still  be- 
fore Boden,  and  looking  at  him  sharply. 

"  Yes,  your  majesty,  I  have  read  it." 

"  Well,  and  what  think  you  of  it  ?  " 

"  That  only  Pöllnitz,  who  it  is  well  known  has  no 
gold,  and  is  only  acquainted  with  debt,  could  have  drawn 
out  such  a  plan,  for  the  realization  of  which,  not  only 
Prussian  gold,  but  a  fountain  of  gold  from  the  Arabian 
Nights  would  be  necessary." 

"  I  swear  I  will  break  this  fellow's  neck ! "  said  Pöll- 
nitz. 

A  faint  smile  might  be  seen  on  the  lips  of  Frederick. 
"  You  do  not  approve  of  this  plan  ?  "  said  he. 

"Your  majesty,  we  have  no  strong  box  from  which 
this  sum  can  be  abstracted,  and  if  you  are  resolved  to  take 
from  the  State  treasury  the  sum  necessary  for  this 
purpose,  so  will  this  also  be  exhausted  during  the  first 
year." 

"  Well,  let  us  leave  this  plan  for  the  present,  and  tell 
me  how  you  stand  as  to  the  means  necessary  to  build  the 
palace  of  the  queen-mother.  Have  you  received  my  in- 
structions ? " 

"  I  have  received  them." 

"  And  you  have  disbursed  the  sum  necessary  ? " 

"  No,  sire,  I  cannot." 

"How!  cannot,  when  I  your  king  and  lord  command 
it?" 

Boden  bowed  respectfully.  "  Your  majesty,  there  is 
a  greater  lord — that  is,  my  conscience;  my  conscience 
forbids  me  to  take  this  sum  from  the  strong  box  desig- 
nated. You  require  four  millions  of  dollars,  and  you  de- 
sire that  this  sum  shall  be  taken  from  the  money  set  apart 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  army  and  the  assistance  of 
famished  and  suffering  villages  and  towns.  I  acknowl- 
edge that  the  court  of  his  sainted  majesty  was  somewhat 
niggardly,    and   that    you,    sire,    may    justly    find    some 


AND  HIS  COURT.  301 

changes  necessary.  If,  however,  it  is  determined  to  use 
for  this  purpose  the  funds  set  apart  for  other  important 
objects,  then  must  your  majesty  impose  new  and  heavy 
taxes  upon  your  subjects,  or  you  must  diminish  the 
army." 

"  Diminish  my  army !  "  said  the  king ;  "  never,  never 
shall  that  be  done !  " 

"  Then,  sire,  if  the  building  of  a  palace  is  absolutely 
necessary,  take  the  sum  for  this  purpose  from  your  royal 
treasury;  it  contains  now  seven  millions  of  dollars,  and 
as  there  is  no  war  in  prospect,  you  may  well  use  four 
millions  of  the  seven  in  building  a  castle." 

"No,  this  will  not  do!"  said  Frederick.  "This 
money  is  set  apart  for  other  objects;  you  shall  take  these 
four  millions  from  the  designated  sources." 

"  I  have  had  already  the  honor  to  show  your  majesty 
the  consequence  of  such  a  course.  You  declare  you  will 
not  diminish  the  army :  it  only  remains  then  to  impose  a 
new  tax." 

"Do  that,  then,"  said  the  king,  indifferently;  "write 
a  command  for  a  new  tax ;  that  is  your  affair." 

The  minister  looked  at  the  king  in  painful  surprise, 
and  a  profound  sorrow  was  painted  in  his  face. 

"If  this  must  be  so,  your  majesty,"  said  he,  with  a 
deeply  moved  voice,  "  then  is  the  hour  of  my  dismissal  at 
hand,  and  I  know  what  I  have  to  do;  I  am  no  longer 
young  enough  to  bear  the  btirden  of  a  portfolio;  I  belong 
to  the  old  and  cautious  time,  and  my  ideas  do  not  suit  the 
young  era.  I  ask  your  majesty,  in  all  humility  and  sub- 
mission, to  give  me  my  dismissal.  Here  is  the  paper 
which  contains  the  plan  of  the  palace;  you  will  readily 
find  another  who  will  obey  your  commands.  I  am  not 
sufficiently  grown  for  this  post  of  finance  minister.  I 
beg  also  for  my  dismissal." 

"At  last,"  said  the  king,  with  glistening  eyes. 

"At  last!"  repeated  Pöllnitz;  "truly  it  was  a  long 


302  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

time  before  this  cowardly  man  could  be  brought  to  the 
point." 

"Did  I  not  tell  you  that  the  king  was  resolved  to  get 
rid  of  Boden  ?  "  said  Fredersdorf ;  "  but  let  us  listen !  no, 
why  should  we  listen?  Boden  has  handed  in  his  resigna- 
tion, and  the  king  has  accepted  it.  I  confess  my  back 
aches  from  this  crouching  position;  I  will  go  and  drink 
a  glass  of  champagne  to  the  health  of  the  new  minister  of 
finance." 

"  You  must  not  go.  The  king  asked  for  you  as  Boden 
was  announced,  and  commanded  that  we  should  wait  here 
in  the  ante-room  until  called,  as  he  had  something  of 
importance  to  communicate.  Without  doubt  he  will  pre- 
sent me  to-day  with  the  deed  of  the  house  in  Jäger  Street. 
Look !  in  the  last  window  niche  I  see  a  pair  of  very  invit- 
ing chairs;  let  us  make  ourselves  comfortable." 

The  king  had  said  "  At  last !  "  as  Boden  offered  his 
resignation ;  after  a  short  silence  he  added :  "  It  seems  to 
me  that  you  hesitated  a  long  time  before  resigning." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  Boden  sadly ;  "  I  certainly  had  oc- 
casion to  take  this  step  earlier,  but  I  still  hoped  I  might 
be  useful  to  my  king." 

"  And  this  hope  has  not  deceived  you,"  said  Frederick, 
drawing  near  to  Boden,  and  laying  his  hand  on  his  shoul- 
der ;  "  I  cannot  accept  your  resignation." 

Boden  looked  up  amazed.  The  king's  face  was  beauti- 
ful to  behold — a  touching  and  gentle  expression  spoke  in 
every  noble  feature;  his  light-blue  eye  beamed  with  glad- 
ness and  goodness. 

"  How !  Your  majesty  will  not  accept  my  resigna- 
tion?" 

"No,  it  would  be  great  folly  in  me,"  said  Frederick, 
in  a  tone  which  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  the  minister; 
"  it  would  be  great  folly  to  deprive  myself  of  so  noble  and 
faithful  a  servant.  No,  Boden,  I  am  not  so  great  a  spend- 
thrift as  to  cast  away  such  a  treasure.    Now  in  order 


AND  HIS  COURT.  303 

that  you  may  understand  your  king,  I  will  make  you  a 
confession:  you  had  been  slandered  to  me,  and  my  dis- 
trust awakened.  It  was  said  of  you  that  you  filled  the 
State  treasury  while  the  people  hungered;  it  was  said 
of  you  that  you  were  resolved  to  hold  on  to  your  office, 
and  therefore  carried  out  the  commands  of  the  king,  even 
though  unjust  to  the  people.  I  wished  to  prove  you, 
Boden,  to  see  if  you  had  been  slandered  or  justly  charged; 
I  handled  you,  therefore,  contemptuously;  I  gave  you 
coramissions  which  were  oppressive;  I  drew  upon  the 
treasury  so  as  to  exhaust  it  fully;  I  wished  to  know  if 
you  were  only  a  submissive  servant  or  an  honest  man; 
I  had  long  to  wait,  and  your  patience  and  forbearance 
were  great.  To-day  I  put  you  to  the  extremest  proof,  and 
by  God !  if  you  had  carried  out  my  unjust  and  unwise  in- 
structions, I  would  not  only  have  deprived  you  of  your 
office,  but  I  would  have  held  you  to  a  strict  account.  You 
would  have  been  a  dishonest  servant,  who,  in  order  to 
flatter  the  king,  was  willing  to  sin  against  the  people. 
The  welfare  of  my  people  is  holy  to  me,  and  they  shall 
not  be  oppressed  by  new  taxes.  Praised  be  God!  I  can 
say  I  understand  my  duties ;  may  every  ruler  do  the  same. 
May  they  keep  their  eyes  steadily  fixed  upon  their  great 
calling;  may  they  feel  that  this  exaltation,  this  rank  of 
which  they  are  so  proud,  so  jealous,  is  the  gift  of  the  peo- 
ple, whose  happiness  is  intrusted  to  them;  that  millions 
of  men  have  not  been  created  to  be  the  slaves  of  one 
man,  to  make  him  more  terrible  and  more  powerful.  The 
people  do  not  place  themselves  under  the  yoke  of  a  fellow- 
man  to  be  the  martyrs  of  his  humor  and  the  playthings 
of  his  pleasure.  No,  they  choose  from  amongst  them  the 
one  they  consider  the  most  just,  in  order  that  he  may 
govern  them;  the  best,  to  be  their  father;  the  most  hu- 
mane, that  he  may  sympathize  and  assist  them;  the 
bravest,  to  defend  them  from  their  enemies;  the  wisest, 
that  they  may  not  be  dragged  without  cause  into  de- 


304  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

structive  wars — the  man,  in  short,  who  seems  to  them  the 
best  suited  to  govern  himself  and  them;  to  use  the  sov- 
ereign power,  to  sustain  justice  and  the  laws,  and  not  to 
play  the  tyrant.  These  are  my  views  of  what  a  king 
should  be,  and  I  will  fulfil  my  calling,  so  help  me  God! 
You,  Boden,  must  stand  by  and  give  me  honest  help." 

In  the  eyes  of  the  minister  might  be  seen  joyful  tears 
and  a  noble  ambition;  he  bowed  low  and  kissed  the  ex" 
tended  hand  of  the  king. 

"  How  gracious  has  God  been  to  my  fatherland  in  giv- 
ing it  such  a  prince !  " 

"  You  will  not,  then,  insist  upon  your  resignation  ? " 
said  the  king.  "  You  are  content  to  serve  me,  provided  I 
do  not  diminish  my  army,  and  do  not  impose  new  taxes 
upon  the  people  ?  " 

"I  will  be  proud  and  happy  to  serve  my  king,"  said 
Boden,  deeply  moved. 

"  I  must  tell  you,  Boden,  this  will  be  no  light  service, 
and  my  ministers  will  be  hereafter  less  important  person- 
ages than  they  have  supposed  themselves  to  be;  I  shall 
closely  observe  them  all,  and  shall  require  much  work  of 
them,  but  I  myself  will  be  diligent.  It  seems  to  me  an 
idle  prince  is  a  poor  creature,  that  the  world  has  little  use 
for.  I  am  resolved  to  serve  my  country  with  all  my 
powers;  but  I  will  stand  alone,  independent,  self-sus- 
taining. My  ministers  will  only  be  my  instruments  to 
carry  out  my  purposes;  they  will  have  much  to  do,  and 
have  no  influence.  I  will  have  no  favorite,  and  never 
consult  any  other  will  than  my  own;  but  I  shall  require 
of  them  to  express  their  opinions  frankly  and  without 
fear  in  answer  to  my  questions,  and  that  they  shall  not 
fail  to  call  my  attention  to  any  errors  I  may  commit, 
either  through  haste  or  want  of  judgment." 

"  All  this  I  will  do,"  said  Boden,  deeply  moved.  "  So 
truly  as  God  will  give  me  strength,  I  will  serve  my  king 
and  my  fatherland  faithfully  to  the  end." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  305 

"We  are  agreed,  then,"  said  Frederick;  "you  will  re- 
main my  minister.  If  you  had  not  demanded  your  dis- 
missal, I  should  have  given  it  to  you.  I  should  have  seen 
that  you  were  justly  accused,  and  were  determined  to 
remain  minister  at  any  price.  Thank  God,  you  have 
proved  to  me  that  you  are  an  honest  man!  But,"  said 
the  king,  "you  are  not  only  an  honest  man,  but  a  bold, 
unterrified,  truthful  man;  a  true  friend,  grateful  for 
benefits  received,  you  do  not  cease  to  love  your  king  and 
benefactor,  even  after  his  death.  You  have  had  the  cour- 
age to  defend  the  dead  king,  and  to  reproach  his  suc- 
cessor. The  king  cannot  thank  you  for  this;  but  as  a 
son,  I  thank  you— I  say,  '  Come  to  my  heart,  true  and 
faithful  servant.'  We  kings  are  too  poor  to  reward  our 
servants  in  any  other  way  than  by  confiding  love."  The 
king  opened  his  arms  and  pressed  Boden  to  his  heart, 
who  wept  aloud.  "  And  now,"  cried  the  king,  "  we  under- 
stand each  other,  and  know  what  we  have  to  expect,  and 
that  is  always  a  great  gain  in  this  world,  full  of  disap- 
pointment, hypocrisy,  and  cunning.  I  will  now  give  you 
a  proof  that  I  do  not  close  my  ear  to  the  reasonable  coun- 
sels of  my  minister,  and  that  I  am  ready  to  offer  up  my 
personal  wishes;  I  will  not  build  this  palace  for  my 
mother;  you  have  convinced  me  that  I  have  not  the  in- 
come to  do  so.  I  cannot  take  four  millions  from  the 
State  treasury.  This  money  will  soon  be  needed  for  a 
more  important  object.  But  some  changes  are  absolutely 
necessary  in  the  royal  palace;  it  must  be  made  more 
worthy  of  a  king.  Take,  therefore,  these  plans  and  de- 
signs; strike  from  them  what  you  consider  superfluous. 
Let  me  know  what  additions  you  think  it  best  to  adopt, 
and  from  what  source  we  can  draw  the  necessary  funds."  * 

»  "  History  of  Berlin,"  Tlii^bault. 


306  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

CHAPTER   III. 

THE  UNDECEIVED  COURTIER. 

At  the  time  that  the  king  was  placing  the  extravagant 
plans,  which  Baron  von  Pöllnitz  had  drawn  up,  into  the 
hands  of  his  minister  of  finance,  the  baron  was  waiting 
in  the  ante-room,  in  a  state  of  smiling  security,  entertain- 
ing his  friend  Fredersdorf  with  an  account  of  his  own 
future  splendor  and  magnificence,  speaking  espeqjaUy 
of  the  entertainments  which  he  intended  giving  in  his 
new  house  in  Jäger  Street.  When  at  length  the  door  of 
the  royal  cabinet  was  opened,  and  the  minister  of  finance 
entered  the  ante-room,  Pöllnitz  and  Fredersdorf  stood  up, 
not  however  to  greet  the  minister,  but  to  pass  him  with  a 
cold,  contemptuous  smile  on  their  way  to  the  door  of  the 
cabinet.  The  smile  died  suddenly  on  Pöllnitz's  lips,  and 
he  stood  as  if  transfixed  before  the  minister. 

"  What  are  those  papers  which  you  hold  ?  "  he  asked, 
extending  his  hand  as  if  he  would  tear  the  papers  from 
Baron  von  Boden. 

The  minister  pushed  him  back,  as  he  carelessly 
shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  These  are  papers  which  his 
majesty  handed  me,  that  I  might  examine  their  contents, 
and  see  if  they  contained  any  thing  but  folly." 

"  Sir,"  said  Pöllnitz,  beside  himself  with  rage,  "  these 
papers — "  but  he  became  suddenly  silent,  for  the  door  of 
the  cabinet  was  opened  again,  and  the  king  entered  the 
room. 

He  glanced  scornfully  at  Pöllnitz,  who  was  scarcely 
able  to  conceal  his  anger,  and  approached  Baron  von 
Boden.  "  One  thing  more,  minister,"  said  the  king,  "  I 
had  forgotten  that  I  had  prepared  a  little  surprise  for 
you ;  I  am  aware  that  you  are  not  rich,  although  you  are 
the  minister  of  finance,  and  I  understand  that  you  live 


AND  HIS  COURT.  307 

in  a  limited  way,  scarcely  worthy  of  your  rank.  We  must 
alter  this,  and  happily  I  know  a  house  which  even  Baron 
von  Pöllnitz  declares  is  worthy  a  nobleman.  I  present 
this  house  to  you,  with  its  entire  contents.  From  this 
moment  it  is  yours,  and  Baron  von  Pöllnitz  must  go  with 
you,  and  show  it  to  you;  he  can  point  out  to  you  all  the 
advantages  and  conveniences  which  he  has  so  often 
praised  to  me." 

Pöllnitz  stood  pale,  trembling,  and  confused.  "  I  do 
not  know  of  what  house  your  majesty  speaks,"  he  stam- 
mered, "  of  what  house  I  can  have  said  that  it  was  worthy 
of  the  minister  of  finance." 

"  Not  of  the  minister  of  finance,  but  of  a  nobleman, 
and  Boden  is  a  nobleman,  not  only  in  name  but  in  reality ; 
and  is  entirely  worthy  to  possess  the  house  which  I  have 
presented  to  him.  You  are  well  acquainted  with  it,  Pöll- 
nitz; it  is  the  house  which  my  father  had  built  for  Eck- 
ert, the  beautiful  house  in  Jäger  Street." 

"  The  house  in  Jäger  Street ! "  cried  Pöllnitz,  for- 
getting the  restraint  which  the  presence  of  the  king 
usually  imposed.  "  No,  no,  your  majesty  is  pleased  to 
jest.  You  do  not  mean  the  house  in  Jäger  Street,  that 
house  which " 

"  That  house,"  interrupted  the  king,  in  a  stern  voice, 
"  that  house  which  pleased  you  so  well,  that  you,  as  fool- 
ish children  sometimes  do,  confused  reality  with  your 
dreams,  and  imagined  that  this  house  already  belonged 
to  you,  merely  because  you  desired  that  it  should  do  so. 
I  would  have  smiled  at  this  childish  folly,  if  it  had  re- 
mained an  amusement  for  your  unemployed  fancy;  but 
you  have  deceived  others  as  well  as  yourself,  and  that  is 
an  unpardonable  fault,  and  one  which  you  must  repair 
immediately,  if  you  do  not  wish  to  be  dismissed  from  my 
service." 

"I  do  not  understand  your  majesty;  I  do  not  kno% 
how  I  have  forfeited  the  favor  of  my  king." 


308  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

The  king  glanced  angrily  at  the  pale,  trembling  cour- 
tier. "  You  understand  perfectly.  Baron  von  Pöllnitz,  of 
which  fault,  amongst  the  many  that  you  daily  and  hour- 
ly commit,  I  speak.  You  know  that  it  has  pleased  you  to 
declare  the  house,  which  I  have  just  presented  to  Boden, 
to  be  yours,  and  that  you  have  found  credulous  people 
who  have  lent  you  money  on  that  representation." 

"  Will  your  majesty  grant  me  a  favor?  "  said  Minister 
von  Boden,  glancing  kindly  at  Pöllnitz,  who  stood  near 
him  crushed  and  trembling. 

The  king  consented  by  bowing  silently,  and  the  minis- 
ter proceeded : 

"Your  majesty  has  just  made  me  most  rich  and 
happy,  and  I  consider  it  my  duty,  as  it  is  my  pleasure,  to 
share  both  riches  and  happiness  with  my  fellow-creatures. 
Baron  von  Pöllnitz,  by  the  commands  of  the  late  king, 
executed  the  plans  for  the  house  which  your  majesty  has 
so  kindly  presented  to  me;  he  also  selected  the  decora- 
tions and  furniture,  and  this  may  have  led  him  to  believe 
that  the  house,  which  had  been  built  and  furnished  ac- 
cording to  his  taste,  might  become  his  own.  I  am  much 
indebted  to  Pöllnitz,  for  a  man  so  plain  and  simple  as  I 
am  would  never  have  been  able  to  make  this  house  so 
tasteful  and  elegant.  Permit  me,  therefore,  your  maj- 
esty, to  liquidate  this  debt  by  considering  the  small  mort- 
gage which  Baron  von  Pöllnitz  has  put  upon  this  house, 
as  my  aSair." 

"  What  reply  do  you  make  to  this  proposition  ? "  said 
the  king,  turning  to  Pöllnitz. 

"  That  if  your  majesty  allows  me  I  will  accept  it  with 
pleasure,  and  I  merely  wish  to  ask  the  minister  whether 
he  will  only  take  up  those  mortgages  which  I  have  al- 
ready put  upon  the  house,  or  the  others  which  I  intended 
putting?" 

"  Ah ! "  cried  the  king,  laughing,  "  you  are  incorrigi- 
ble.   If  poor  Boden  is  to  satisfy  not  only  your  old  credi- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  309 

tors  but  your  new  ones,  the  present  I  have  made  him 
would  probably  reduce  him  to  beggary  in  a  few  months. 
No,  no,  this  one  mortgage  is  sufldcient,  and  as  it  amounts 
to  only  a  few  thousand  dollars,  it  shall  be  paid  from  my 
purse;  and  that  my  gift  to  you,  Boden,  may  have  no 
drawback,  Pöllnitz  may  consider  himself  thus  repaid  for 
his  trouble  about  the  plans  and  arrangements  of  your 
house.  But  woe  to  you,  Pöllnitz,  if  I  should  again  hear 
of  such  folly  and  deceit;  and  if  you  do  not  give  up  such 
disgraceful  conduct,  and  act  in  a  manner  becoming  your 
rank  and  office,  this  is  the  last  time  that  I  will  show  any 
mercy  for  your  folly.  If  there  is  a  repetition  of  it,  I  will 
be  inexorable,  only  a  stern  judge  and  king." 

"  Your  majesty  plunges  me  into  an  abyss  of  despair," 
said  Pöllnitz,  swinging  his  hands.  "  You  demand  that  I 
shall  create  no  new  debts;  and  how  is  it  possible  to  avoid 
that,  when  I  have  not  even  the  money  to  pay  the  old  ones  ? 
If  your  majesty  desires  that  I  should  lead  a  new  life,  you 
should  have  the  kindness  to  pay  my  old  debts." 

The  king  paced  the  room  silently  for  a  short  time,  and 
then  stood  before  Pöllnitz,  and  said: 

"  You  are  so  shameless  and  absurd  that  I  must  either 
drive  you  away  or  content  myself  with  laughing  at  you. 
I  will,  however,  remember  that  my  father  and  grand- 
father laughed  at  you,  and  for  the  present  I  will  also 
laugh,  as  I  laugh  at  the  silly  pranks  of  merry  Mr.  Eaths, 
my  monkey.  But  even  Mr,  Raths  was  punished  yesterday 
because  he  was  too  daring  with  his  monkey  tricks.  Mark 
this.  Baron  von  Pöllnitz,  I  will  pay  your  debts  this  time; 
but  if  it  should  occur  to  you  to  make  new  ones,  I  will 
forget  that  you  were  the  jester  of  my  father  and  grand- 
father, and  only  remember  that  so  reckless  an  individual 
cannot  remain  in  my  service.  Now  accompany  the  min- 
ister to  the  Jäger  Street,  and  show  him  his  house.  Your 
audience  is  at  an  end,  gentlemen." 

After  these  gentlemen  had  left  the  room,  the  king 

MuHLBACH  14  Vol.   1 


310  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

stood  for  a  long  time  as  if  lost  in  thought.  He  did  not 
appear  to  be  aware  that  he  was  not  alone,  that  Freders- 
dorf  was  standing  in  the  window,  to  which  he  had  with- 
drawn on  the  appearance  of  the  king,  and  had  been  a 
trembling,  despairing  witness  to  this  scene,  which  had  dis- 
turbed his  plans  and  hopes.  Suddenly  the  king  walked 
rapidly  through  the  room,  and  stood  before  Fredersdorf — 
his  eyes,  usually  so  clear  and  bright,  veiled  as  with  a 
cloud,  and  an  expression  of  deep  melancholy  upon  his 
noble  face. 

"  Fredersdorf,"  he  said,  with  a  voice  so  mild  and  gen- 
tle that  his  hearer  trembled,  and  a  deadly  pallor  over- 
spread his  countenance — "  Fredersdorf,  is  it  really  true 
that  you  all  think  of  me  only  as  your  king,  never  as  your 
fellow-man?  that  you  have  no  love  for  your  sovereign, 
only  envy  and  hatred,  only  malice  and  cunning?  And 
you,  also,  Fredersdorf,  you  whom  I  have  loved,  not  as  a 
master  loves  his  servant,  but  as  a  dear  friend,  with  whom 
I  have  often  forgotten  that  I  was  a  prince,  and  only  re- 
membered that  I  was  with  a  friend,  who  had  a  feeling 
heart  for  my  cares  and  sorrows,  and  entertained  a  little 
love  not  for  the  prince  but  for  the  man.  Are  you  all  deter- 
mined to  make  me  cold-hearted  and  distrustful?  are  you 
laboring  to  turn  my  heart  to  stone — to  cut  off  my  soul 
from  faith  and  love  ?  A  day  will  come  when  you  will  call 
me  cold  and  relentless,  and  no  one  will  say  that  it  was 
those  I  loved  and  trusted  who  made  me  thus." 

"  Mercy !  mercy !  my  king,"  prayed  Fredersdorf,  sink- 
ing to  the  feet  of  the  king.  "  Kill  me !  destroy  me  with 
your  anger!  only  do  not  show  me  such  kindness  and  love. 
Oh !  your  majesty  does  not  know  how  I  love  you,  how  my 
heart  is  bound  up  in  yours;  but  I  have  a  wild  and  am- 
bitious heart,  and  in  the  thirst  of  my  ambition  I  was 
not  satisfied  to  remain  the  servant  of  my  king.  I  wished 
to  become  powerful  and  influential.  I  longed  to  mount 
high  above  those  who  now  look  down  upon  and  despise 


AND  HIS  COURT.  SH 

me  because  I  am  a  servant.  This,  my  king,  is  my  whole 
crime,  the  remorseful  confession  of  my  guilt." 

"  You  did  not  wish  to  betray  your  king,  you  only  de- 
sired to  be  the  lord  of  your  lord.  You  wished  to  reign 
through  me.  Poor  Fredersdorf,  do  you  think  it  such  hap- 
piness to  be  a  king?  Do  you  not  know  that  this  royal 
crown,  which  seems  so  bright  to  you,  is  only  a  crown  of 
thorns,  which  is  concealed  with  a  little  tinsel  and  a  few 
spangles?  Poor  Predersdorf,  you  are  ambitious;  I  will 
gratify  you  in  this  as  far  as  possible,  but  you  must  con- 
quer the  desire  to  control  my  will,  and  influence  my  reso- 
lutions. A  king  is  only  answerable  to  God,"  proceeded 
the  king,  "  and  only  from  God  can  he  receive  control  or 
commands.  I  am  the  servant  of  God,  but  the  master  of 
men.  I  will  gratify  your  amotion,  Fredersdorf,  I  will 
give  you  a  title.  You  shall  no  longer  be  a  mere  servant, 
but  a  private  secretary;  and  that  you  may  be  a  master 
as  well  as  a  servant,  I  present  you  the  estate  Czernihon, 
near  Eheinsberg.  There  you  will  be  lord  of  your  peas- 
ants and  workmen,  and  learn  if  it  is  not  a  thankless  office 
to  rule.     Are  you  satisfied,  my  poor  Fredersdorf  ? " 

Fredersdorf  could  not  answer;  he  pressed  his  lips  to 
the  hand  of  the  king,  and  wept  aloud. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE   BRIDAL  PAIR. 

Joy  and  exultation  reigned  in  the  house  of  the  rich 
manufacturer  Orguelin.  The  proud  daughter  had  con- 
sented to  become  the  wife  of  Count  Rhederri;  she  had  at 
last   accepted  him,  and  the  happy  father,  delighted  at 


312  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

the  prospect  of  soon  becoming  father-in-law  to  a  countj 
busied  himself  with  the  preparations  for  the  approaching 
wedding  festivities,  which  were  destined  to  excite  the 
admiration  and  astonishment  of  the  entire  city  by  theii 
magnificence  and  prodigal  splendor.  At  this  festival  thö 
future  Countess  Rhedern  was  to  appear  for  the  last  time 
in  the  circle  of  her  old  friends,  and  then  to  take  leave  of 
them  forever;  for  as  a  matter  of  course  the  Countess 
Khedern  would  have  to  form  new  friendships  and  seek 
other  society  than  that  to  which  she  had  been  accustomed 
as  Mademoiselle  Orguelin.  But  M.  Orguelin  desired  to 
exhibit  to  his  associates,  the  manufacturers  and  mer- 
chants, this  splendid  nobleman  who  had  now  become  his 
son;  he  wished  to  excite  the  envy  and  admiration  of  his 
friends  by  the  princely  magnificence  of  his  house. 

But  all  this  was  far  from  being  agreeable  to  Count 
Ehedem,  who  had  other  plans.  His  creditors  and  his 
poverty  compelled  him  to  marry  this  rich  merchant's 
daughter,  but  he  had  no  desire  or  intention  of  entering 
into  any  association  or  connection  with  the  friends  and 
relations  of  his  wife;  and  even  if  it  should  be  necessary 
to  recognize  his  rich  father-in-law,  it  did  not  follow  that 
he  would  appear  at  his  fetes  to  add  lustre  to  the  enter- 
tainment and  be  shown  off  as  a  highly  ornamented  ac- 
quisition. He  trembled  when  he  thought  of  the  ridicule  of 
the  court  cavaliers,  to  whom  it  would  be  an  inexhaustible 
subject  of  jest,  that  he,  the  marshal  of  the  queen,  and  a 
cavalier  of  old  nobility,  had  played  this  role  at  a  fete  of 
the  bourgeoisie,  and  had  conversed,  eaten,  and  danced 
with  manufacturers  and  tradespeople.  That  could  not 
and  should  not  be.  To  preserve  the  prestige  of  his  house, 
a  nobleman  might  marry  the  daughter  of  a  merchant,  if 
she  possessed  a  million,  but  he  could  not  stoop  so  low  as 
to  consider  himself  a  member  of  her  family,  and  to  recog- 
nize this  or  that  relative.  Count  Rhedern  thought  of 
some  plan  by  which  h£  could  frustrate  this  scheme  of  his 


AND  HIS  COURT.  313 

father-in-law  in  regard  to  the  wedding  festivities,  which 
would  bring  him  into  such  undesirable  and  disagreeable 
association  with  persons  beneath  his  rank,  as  he  desired 
to  avoid  as  far  as  possible  all  eclat  in  this  misalliance. 
With  a  smiling  countenance  he  entered  one  morning  into 
the  magnificent  parlor  of  his  affianced,  who  with  her 
father's  assistance  was  engaged  in  making  out  a  list  of 
the  wedding  guests.  The  count  seated  himself  near  his 
future  bride,  and  listened  with  inward  horror  to  the  ter- 
rible and  barbarous  names  which  were  placed  on  the  list, 
the  possessors  of  which  could  never  appear  at  a  knightly 
tournament  or  court  festival,  and  were  consequently  ex- 
cluded from  all  the  joys  and  honors  of  the  world. 

"Well,"  said  the  father  exultingly,  "what  do  you 
think  of  our  fetef  It  will  be  perfectly  magnificent,  will 
it  not?  The  richest  merchants  of  Berlin  will  be  present; 
and  if  one  were  to  estimate  us  by  our  wealth,  it  would  be 
found  that  more  millions  would  be  assembled  there  than 
Germany  has  inhabitants.  You  will  readily  understand, 
my  dear  son,  that  in  order  to  do  honor  to  such  guests, 
great  preparations  are  necessary,  for  it  is  not  easy  to 
excite  the  astonishment  and  admiration  of  these  proud 
merchants.  It  is  quite  easy  to  surprise  one  of  your 
barons  or  counts;  you  are  delighted  when  entertained 
with  champagne  or  fine  Holstein  oysters,  but  a  rich  mer- 
chant turns  scornfully  from  turtle-soup  and  Indian 
birds'-nests.  ISTevertheless,  my  proud  guests  shall  be  sur- 
prised; they  shall  have  a  fine  dinner,  the  like  of  which 
they  have  never  seen.  For  this  purpose  I  have  ordered 
two  of  the  best  cooks  from  Paris,  who  will  arrive  in  a  few 
days.  They  have  written  that  they  wiU  need  at  least  two 
weeks  to  make  the  necessary  preparations  for  the  wed- 
ding-dinner. For  their  services  I  will  pay  them  a  salary 
which  is  perhaps  equal  to  the  half-yearly  pay  of  a  marshal 
or  chamberlain.  Moreover,  we  will  have  fireworks,  illu- 
minations, splendid  music;  yes,  I  have  even  thought  of 


314  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

having  a  stage  erected,  and  of  engaging  a  Frencli  com^ 
pany  to  amuse  our  guests  with  a  few  comedies." 

"I  am  only  afraid  that  but  few  of  our  guests  will 
understand  a  word  of  these  French  plays,"  exclaimed  his 
daughter,  laughing. 

"  That  is  quite  possible ;  nevertheless  French  is  now 
the  rage,  and  it  will  attract  attention  if  we  have  a 
French  play.  And  you,  my  dear  son,  what  do  you  say 
to  all  this?     You  look  almost  vexed." 

"  I  sigh  because  you  wish  to  defer  the  wedding  for  so 
long  a  time." 

"  Ah,  that  is  a  compliment  for  you,  my  daughter. 
Lovers  are  always  impatient." 

"  But  I  did  not  sigh  only  because  I  would  so  long 
be  deprived  of  the  happiness  of  leading  my  dear  Caroline 
to  the  altar,  but  because  I  should  thereby  lose  the  pleas- 
ure of  presenting  her  to  the  court  as  my  wife  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  large  and  most  magnificent  court  ball  with 
which  the  season  will  be  opened." 

"  A  court  ball  is  to  take  place  ? "  asked  Caroline  Or- 
guelin,  with  vivacity.  "  The  king  has,  I  believe,  not  yet 
returned  from  his  journey." 

"  But  will  do  so  in  a  few  days,  and  as  the  court  mourn- 
ing is  now  at  an  end,  the  king  will  give  a  brilliant  mas- 
querade ball,  which  will  probably  be  the  only  one  given 
this  winter." 

"  A  masquerade  ball !  "  exclaimed  his  bride ;  "  and  I 
have  never  seen  one !  " 

"  And  this  is  to  be  a  most  magnificent  one.  More- 
over, the  queen-mother  has  already  promised  me  an  in- 
vitation for  my  wife,  and  requested  me  to  present  her 
to  the  entire  court  on  this  occasion." 

"And  is  it  impossible  to  have  the  wedding  any 
sooner?"  asked  Caroline,  impatiently. 

"  Quite  impossible,"  said  M.  Orguelin. 

*'  And  why  impossible  ?  "  said  the  count.    "  Could  we 


AND  ms  COURT.  315 

not  have  the  wedding  at  an  early  day,  and  the  festival 
later?  Could  we  not,  as  is  now  customary  in  high  circles, 
be  married  quietly,  and  have  the  festival  at  a  later  day? 
These  noisy  weddings  are  a  little  out  of  fashion  at  the 
present  day,  and  it  would  be  said  at  court  that  the  wealthy 
and  highly  cultivated  M.  Orguelin  showed  his  disregard 
for  the  customs  of  our  young  and  modern  court  by  ad- 
hering to  those  of  the  old  regime." 

"  God  forbid  that  I  should  do  that !  "  exclaimed  M. 
Orguelin,  in  a  terrified  voice. 

"  Father,  I  detest  noisy  merry-makings,  and  insist  on 
a  quiet  marriage.  It  shall  not  be  said  at  court  that 
Mademoiselle  Orguelin,  with  all  her  acquaintances,  had 
rejoiced  over  the  inestimable  happiness  of  becoming  the 
wife  of  a  count.  I  will  be  married  quietly;  afterwards 
the  count  may  give  a  fete  in  honor  of  our  marriage, 
which  you,  my  father,  can  return." 

As  usual,  M.  Orguelin  submitted  to  his  daughter's 
will,  and  it  was  determined  that  a  quiet  wedding  should 
take  place  in  a  few  days,  to  be  followed  on  a  later  day  by 
a  magnificent  fete  in  the  house  of  the  father-in-law. 

"  At  which  I  shall  certainly  not  be  present,"  thought 
Count  Rhedern,  while  he  expressed  his  entire  satisfaction 
with  this  arrangement. 

Mademoiselle  Orguelin's  proudest  wishes  were  about 
to  be  accomplished.  She  was  to  be  introduced  at  court, 
and  the  queen-mother  had  graciously  declared  her  inten- 
tion of  presenting  her  to  the  king  at  the  approaching 
masquerade.  There  was  now  wanting  but  one  thing, 
and  that  was  a  suitable  costume  for  'this  important  oc- 
casion, and  Count  Rhedern  assured  her,  with  a  sigh,  that 
it  would  be  very  difficult  to  prepare  it,  as  it  would  be  al- 
most impossible  to  find  a  tailor  who  would  undertake  to 
make,  in  so  short  a  time,  the  gold-brocaded  train  which 
was  necessary. 

"Pelissier,  the  new  French  tailor,  has  even  refused 


316  FREDEKICK  THE  GREAT 

to  make  a  little  cloak  for  me,"  said  Count  Ehedem,  "  and 
his  female  assistants,  who  are  the  most  fashionable  dress- 
makers, have  been  deaf  to  all  entreaties  for  the  last  week. 
They  take  no  more  orders  for  the  masquerade,  and  it  was 
only  yesterday  that  I  met  Countess  Hake,  who  had  been 
with  the  pretty  Blanche  while  I  was  with  her  father,  de- 
scending the  steps,  wringing  her  hands  and  bathed  in 
tears,  because  the  proud  dressmakers  had  replied  to  her 
prayers  and  entreaties  with  a  cruel  '  Impossible ! '  " 

"  I  know,  however,  that  M.  Pricker,  the  court  dress- 
maker of  the  two  queens,  would  not  make  me  this  reply," 
said  Caroline  Orguelin,  proudly,  "  but  that  he  would  make 
whatever  is  necessary  even  if  he  should  be  forced  to  take 
several  additional  assistants." 

"  Then  let  us  drive  to  M.  Pricker's,"  said  her  affianced, 
smiling ;  "  but  we  must  go  at  once,  for  we  have  no  time 
to  lose,  and  you  can  well  imagine  that  I  would  be  in- 
consolable if,  after  our  marriage,  I  could  not  present 
you  to  the  court  as  my  wife  on  the  first  suitable  occa- 
sion." 

"Yes,  we  have  no  time  to  lose,"  repeated  Caroline, 
ringing  a  bell  and  ordering  her  carriage.  When,  after  a 
few  minutes,  Caroline  Orguelin  and  the  count  were  alone 
in  the  carriage,  she  turned  to  him  with  a  mocking  smile, 
and  remarked :  "  The  wedding  is,  then,  to  take  place  the 
day  after  to-morrow." 

"  Yes,  my  dearest  Caroline,  and  on  that  day  I  will 
be  the  happiest  of  men." 

"  Your  creditors,"  said  she,  shrugging  her  shoulders, 
"were  then  becoming  so  pressing  that  you  suddenly  ex- 
perienced an  ardent  longing  for  my  dowry." 

"  My  creditors  ?  "  asked  the  count ;  "  I  do  not  under- 
stand you,  dearest  Caroline." 

"You  understand  me  very  well,"  said  she,  with  cut- 
ting coldness ;  "  it  is,  moreover,  time  that  we  understand 
each  other,  once  for  all.    Know,  therefore,  my  dear  sir. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  317 

that  I  have  not  allowed  myself  to  be  deceived  either  by 
your  tender  protestations  or  by  the  role  of  an  impatient 
lover,  which  you  have  acted  so  well.  I  am  neither  young 
nor  pretty  enough  to  awaken  a  passion  in  the  breast  of  so 
noble  and  excellent  a  cavalier  as  Count  Khedern.  You 
are  poor,  but  rich  in  debts,  and  you  needed  therefore  a 
rich  wife;  and  as  I  happened  to  have  more  money  than 
any  of  the  beautiful  and  noble  ladies  of  the  court,  you 
determined  to  marry  me,  deeming  my  rich  dowry  a  suffi- 
cient compensation  for  the  disgrace  inflicted  on  your 
noble  house.  In  a  word,  you  chose  me  because  you  were 
tired  of  being  dunned  by  your  creditors,  and  of  living  in 
a  state  of  secret  misery ;  and  I — I  bought  Count  Khedern 
with  my  millions,  in  order  that  I  might  appear  at  court." 

"  Well,  truly,  these  confessions  are  very  curious,  highly 
original,"  said  Count  Khedern,  with  a  forced  smile. 

"  They  are,  however,  necessary.  We  need  no  longer 
trouble  ourselves  with  this  useless  acting  and  hypocrisy. 
It  is  also  but  just  that  I  should  inform  you  why  I  so 
ardently  desire  to  become  a  lady  of  quality,  that  is,  why 
I  wish  to  be  able  to  appear  at  court,  for  I  hope  you  do 
not  consider  me  silly  enough  to  buy  a  count  for  the  mere 
sake  of  being  called  countess  ? " 

"  I  should  consider  this  wish  by  no  means  a  silly  one," 
murmured  the  count. 

"No,"  continued  his  bride.  "I  desired  to  become  a 
countess  that  I  might  obtain  access  to  court  and  enjoy  a 
happiness  of  which  thousands  would  be  envious,  al- 
though like  the  moth  I  could  only  flutter  round  the  bril- 
liant and  dazzling  light  until  it  burned  me  to  death. 
I  told  you  I  was  no  longer  young.  I,  however,  still  have 
a  young  heart,  a  fresher  heart  perhaps  than  all  your 
proud  and  beautiful  ladies  of  the  court,  for  mine  was  as 
hard  and  clear  as  crystal,  until " 

"Well,  conclude,"  said  the  count,  as  she  hesitated; 
"continue  these  little  confessions,  which  are  certainly 


318  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

rarely  made  tefore,  but  generally  after  marriage.  Ton 
epoke  of  your  heart  having  been  as  hard  and  clear  as 
crystal,  until " 

"Until  I  had  seen  the  king,"  continued  his  bride, 
blushing,  "  until  I  had  gazed  in  those  wondrous  eyes, 
until  I  had  seen  the  smile,  so  proud,  and  yet  so  mild  and 
gentle,  with  which  he  greeted  his  people  from  the  bal- 
cony." 

"It  was  then  at  the  coronation  that  you  formed  the 
genial  resolution  of  loving  the  king." 

"  Yes,  it  was  on  the  coronation  day  that  I  for  the  first 
time  comprehended  how  grand,  how  noble  and  sublime  a 
true  man  could  be.  And  my  soul  bowed  in  humility  and 
obedience  before  the  commanding  glance  of  this  Titan, 
and  my  heart  bowed  in  adoration  at  the  feet  of  this  man, 
whose  smile  was  so  wondrous,  and  whose  eyes  spoke  such 
great  things.  Oh!  had  I  been  near  him  as  you  were,  I 
would  have  fallen  at  his  feet  and  have  said  to  him:  *I 
accept  you  as  my  master  and  my  divinity;  you  are  my 
ideal,  and  I  will  adore  you  as  such  with  a  pure  and  noble 
worship.'  But  I  was  far  off,  and  could  only  pray  to  him 
in  thought.  I  determined  that  I  would  be  near  him  at 
some  day;  and  I,  who  had  wished  to  remain  single,  de- 
termined at  this  moment  to  marry — but  to  marry  only  a 
cavalier  of  the  court.  I  inquired  of  my  companion  the 
names  of  the  cavaliers  who  stood  behind  the  king,  and 
the  most  of  them  were  married,  but  you  were  not,  and  I 
was  told  that  you  possessed  a  great  many  debts  and  very 
small  means  of  paying  them.  On  this  day  I  told  my 
father:  'I  wish  to  marry  Count  Rhedern,  I  desire  that 
you  should  purchase  him  for  me,  as  you  recently  pur- 
chased the  handsome  set  of  Nuremburg  jewelry.' " 

"Really,  a  very  flattering  and  ingenious  view  of  the 
matter,"  said  the  count,  with  a  forced  laugh. 

Caroline  continued :  "  My  father  intrusted  this  affair 
to  a  broker  who  had  frequently  done  business  for  him  be- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  -  319 

fore,  and  who  proved  to  be  an  apt  trader  on  this  occasion, 
for  you  see  he  purchased  the  goods  we  desired,  and  the 
business  transaction  has  been  concluded.  Count,  you 
will  now  understand  why  I  made  the  condition  that  I 
should  be  admitted  at  court,  and  recognized  as  your  coun- 
tess, before  I  determined  to  become  your  wife." 

"  I  understand  perfectly  well,"  said  the  count,  peevish- 
ly ;  "  you  made  use  of  me  as  a  bridge  over  which  you 
might  pass  from  your  father's  shop  to  the  royal  palace,  as 
I  will  make  use  of  you  to  pay  my  debts,  and  to  enable  me 
to  live  a  life  worthy  of  a  count.  Ah,  now  that  we  under- 
stand one  another  so  well,  we  will  be  perfectly  at  ease, 
and  live  a  free  and  unconstrained  life  without  annoying 
each  other." 

"  Still,  my  dear  count,  you  will  sometimes  experience 
a  slight  annoyance  at  my  hands,"  said  the  millionnairess, 
gently  placing  her  hand  on  the  count's  shoulder.  "  It 
was  not  only  on  account  of  your  creditors  that  you  de- 
sired so  early  a  marriage,  but  mainly  because  the  count 
considered  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  take  part  in  the  fes- 
tivities of  manufacturers  and  merchants.  But  I  must 
inform  you,  dear  sir,  that  I  shall  never  forget  that  my 
father  is  a  merchant,  and  that  all  my  friends  are  the 
daughters  of  manufacturers  and  merchants.  I  will  be  a 
grateful  daughter  and  a  true  friend,  and  I  will  compel 
you  to  show  the  same  respect  to  my  father  and  friends 
that  I  will  show  to  yours." 

"  Compel !  "  exclaimed  the  count,  "  you  will  compel 
me?" 

"  I  said  compel,  and  you  will  soon  perceive  that  it  is 
in  my  power  to  do  so.  Listen:  my  father  promised  you 
that  my  dowry  should  be  a  million,  out  of  which,  how- 
ever, your  debts,  and  the  expense  of  my  trousseau,  are,  to 
be  defrayed.  Your  debts,  including  the  mortgage  on 
your  estates,  amount  to  two  hundred  thousand,  and  my 
trousseau,  diamonds,  and  the  furnishing  of  my  house  will 


320  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

cost  about  the  same  sum.  There  will  remain,  therefore, 
but  six  hundred  thousand,  of  which  you  will  enjoy  the 
benefit,  according  to  our  marriage  contract.  But  you 
will  readily  understand  that  the  interest  of  this  small 
capital  will  not  support  the  daughter  of  a  rich  merchant 
respectably,  and  that  if  I  should  desire  to  entertain  the 
king  in  my  house,  I  would  perhaps  expend  in  one  evening 
the  half  of  my  income." 

The  count  regarded  his  bride  with  admiration,  al- 
most with  reverence.  "  You  then  think  that  we  could  not 
live  on  the  interest  of  six  hundred  thousand  dollars?" 
asked  he. 

"I  do  not  only  think  so,  but  I  am  sure  of  it,  for  I 
needed  as  much  when  a  girl.  Ah,  my  dear  count,  a  great 
deal  of  money  is  necessary  to  gratify  one's  humors  and 
caprices.  My  father  is  well  aware  of  this  fact,  and  has, 
therefore,  given  me  as  pin  money  a  second  million;  this 
will,  however,  remain  in  his  business,  and  I  shall  only 
receive  the  interest  in  monthly  payments.  I  must,  how- 
ever, remark  that  this  interest  is  not  a  part  of  my  dowry, 
but  is  my  personal  property,  with  which  I  can  do  as  I  see 
fit.  I  can,  if  I  wish,  give  fetes  with  this  money,  pay  your 
debts,  purchase  horses  and  equipages  for  you,  or  I  can 
give  it  to  my  father,  who  can  make  very  good  use  of  it 
in  his  business.  And  now  pay  attention:  whenever  you 
choose  to  neglect  the  proper  and  dutifid  attention  due  to 
your  wife,  her  father,  or  her  friends,  I  will  relinquish  my 
pin  money  to  my  father,  and  you  must  look  to  some  other 
source  for  the  necessary  funds." 

"  But  I  shall  always  be  an  attentive  and  grateful  hus- 
band, and  a  dutiful  son  to  your  father,"  exclaimed  the 
count,  charmed  with  the  prospect  of  a  second  mOlion. 

"  Then  you  will  do  well,"  said  his  bride,  gravely,  "  for 
your  monthly  income  will  thereby  be  increased  by  four 
thousand  dollars.  You  see  I  am  a  true  merchant's  daugh- 
ter, and  understand  accounts.    I  have  bought  you,  and 


AND  HIS  COURT.  321 

know  your  worth,  but  I  also  desire  to  be  properly  es- 
teemed and  respected  by  you.  You  must  never  think  you 
have  honored  me  by  making  me  a  countess,  but  must  al- 
ways remember  that  my  father  is  a  millionnaire,  whose 
only  daughter  and  heiress  pays  you  for  your  amiability, 
your  title,  and  her  admission  to  court.  And  now  enough 
of  these  tedious  affairs.  The  carriage  has  stopped,  and  we 
have  arrived  at  our  destination;  let  us  put  on  our  masks 
again,  and  be  the  fond  lovers  who  marry  for  pure  love  and 
tenderness." 

"  And  in  truth  you  deserve  to  be  loved,"  exclaimed  the 
count,  pressing  her  hand  to  his  lips.  "  You  are  the  most 
discreet  and  charming  of  women,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  I  will  love  you  ardently  some  day." 

"Poor  count,"  said  she,  laughing,  "on  that  day  you 
will  deserve  commiseration,  for  I  shall  certainly  never 
fall  in  love  with  you.  A  heart  like  mine  loves  but  once, 
and  dies  of  that  love." 

"I  hope  that  this  death  will  at  least  be  a  very  slow 
one,"  said  the  count,  jumping  out  of  the  carriage,  and 
assisting  his  bride  elect  to  descend. 


CHAPTEK  V. 

THE  FRENCH  AND  GERMAN  TAILORS,  OR  THE  MONTAGUES 
AND  CAPULETS  OF  BERLIN. 

M.  Pricker  stood  at  his  window;  his  face  was  sad, 
and  he  looked  with  a  troubled  gaze  at  the  house  on  the 
other  side  of  the  street.  This  was  the  house  of  the  new 
French  tailor,  Pelissier.  Many  splendid  equipages  were 
drawn  up  before  the  door,  and  crowds  of  gayly  dressed 
men  and  women  were  passing  in  and  out.    Alas  for  earth- 


322  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

Ij  grandeur!  alas  for  popular  applause!  Pricker  stood 
at  his  window,  no  one  rang  his  bell,  not  a  carriage  was 
to  be  seen  at  his  door,  since  the  arrival  of  the  French 
tailor.  Pricker  was  a  lost  man,  wounded  in  his  ambition, 
his  most  sacred  feelings  trampled  upon,  and  his  just 
claim  to  the  gratitude  of  his  generation  disallowed. 
What  advantage  was  it  to  him  to  be  the  acknowledged 
tailor  of  two  queens?  Since,  in  the  ardor  of  his  patriot- 
ism, he  had  refused  to  employ  French  hands,  not  one  of 
all  those  ladies  who  had  formerly  confided  to  him  the 
secrets  of  their  toilets  remembered  his  discretion,  or  his 
ability  to  hide  their  defects,  or  supply  their  wants.  The 
fickle  and  ungrateful  world  had  forsaken  him.  Even  the 
Hohenzollerns  had  forgotten  the  great  deeds  and  still 
greater  services  of  the  Prickers,  and  no  longer  knew  how 
to  reward  true  merit.  Since  Pelissier  took  the  opposite 
house.  Pricker's  heart  was  broken;  night  and  day  he  was 
consumed  with  anguish;  but  he  made  no  complaint,  he 
suffered  in  Spartan  silence,  and  like  a  hero  covered  his 
bleeding  wounds.  One  soft  eye,  one  kindred  heart  dis- 
covered his  silent  sorrow;  she,  too,  sorrowed  as  those 
without  hope;  she  had  not  even  the  courage  to  offer  con- 
solation. In  this  hour  of  extremity  poor  Pricker  some- 
times thought  of  selling  his  house,  but  the  next  moment 
he  would  blush  at  his  weakness  and  cowardice  in  thus 
abandoning  the  field  to  his  foe. 

In  spiteful  arrogance  the  French  tailor  had  settled 
himself  in  the  opposite  house.  It  was  a  struggle  for  life 
or  death  offered  by  Pelissier,  and  it  should  not  be  said  that 
a  Pricker  ignominiously  declined  the  contest.  Pricker 
must  remain,  he  must  defy  his  adversary,  and  yield  only 
in  death  to  this  dandy  Frenchman;  he  would  therefore 
remain  in  those  ancestral  halls,  which  had  so  long  shel- 
tered the  tailor  of  the  two  queens.  He  remained,  but  the 
death-worm  was  gnawing  at  his  heart.  Pricker  still 
gazed  across  the  street,  and  with  an  added  pang  he  saw 


AND  HIS  COURT.  323 

another  carriage  rolling  in  that  direction;  but  no,  this 
time  the  carriage  turned  to  his  side  of  the  street.  In 
the  first  joy  of  his  heart  he  sprang  forward  to  open  the 
door  and  aid  the  ladies  in  descending;  he  checked  him- 
self in  time,  however,  remembering  that  this  would  com- 
promise the  dignity  of  his  house. 

In  a  few  moments  Madame  Pricker  announced  the 
rich  Mademoiselle  Orguelin  and  her  future  husband. 
Pricker  advanced  to  meet  them  with  calm  composure,  but 
there  was  tumultuous  joy  in  his  heart. 

"  You  will  be  surprised,  my  dear  Pricker,  that  we  did 
not  send  for  you,  but  we  should  have  lost  time  by  that, 
and  our  affairs  demand  the  greatest  haste." 

Pricker  bowed  proudly.  "  My  house  is  accustomed  to 
receive  noble  persons;  my  grandfather  had  once  the 
happiness  to  welcome  a  prince.  In  what  can  I  serve 
you?" 

"I  need  two  complete  court  toilets,"  said  Mademoi- 
selle Orguelin — "the  robes  for  a  first  presentation,  and 
then  for  a  great  court  ball." 

"  Then  you  wish  a  robe  with  a  brocade  train ;  I  would 
choose  blue  velvet,  it  is  most  becoming  to  blondes,  and 
throws  a  heavenly  light  upon  their  complexions." 

"  Then  we  will  take  sky  blue,"  said  the  millionnaire, 
"with  a  train  of  silver.  For  the  ball  dress,  my  father 
has  given  me  a  dress  woven  in  velvet  and  gold." 

"Your  toilets  will  be  superb,  and  the  appearance  of 
the  Countess  Ehedern  will  do  honor  to  the  house  of 
Pricker." 

"  You  must  promise  to  be  ready  in  eight  days." 

"  In  four,  if  necessary,"  said  Pricker,  taking  the  long 
measure  from  his  wife  and  approaching  the  lady. 

"  I  leave  the  trimmings  entirely  to  your  taste,  but  of 
course  my  dress  must  be  of  the  newest  French  cut." 

Pricker  had  laid  the  measure  around  the  slender 
waist   of   Mademoiselle    Orguelin;    he   now    removed   it 


324  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

violently.  "You  desire  your  dresses  made  after  the 
latest  French  style  ? "  he  said,  harshly. 

"  Of  course ;  that  is  surely  understood ;  no  decent  tailor 
would  work  in  any  other  style.  I  should  indeed  be 
ridiculous  to  appear  at  court  in  a  stiS  old  German  cos- 
tume. You  must  make  me  the  tight-fitting  French  waist, 
the  long  points  in  front,  the  narrow  sleeves  reaching  to 
the  elbow  and  trimmed  with  rich  lace." 

Pricker  folded  his  measure  with  heroic  determination 
and  laid  it  upon  the  table. 

"  Your  dress  cannot  be  made  in  the  house  of  Pricker, 
mademoiselle." 

"  What,  you  refuse  to  work  for  me  ?  " 

"  I  will  not  adopt  the  French  fashions !  that  would  be 
an  insult  to  my  ancestors.  I  will  remain  true  to  the 
good  old  German  customs." 

"  Reflect,"  said  Count  Rhedern,  "  how  much  this  ob- 
stinacy will  cost  you.  You  will  lose  all  the  patronage  of 
the  court;  all  the  world  adopts  the  new  French  fashions." 

"  That  is  true,"  said  the  sorrowful  Pricker ;  he  ap- 
proached and  pointed  through  the  window  to  the  house 
opposite.  "  Once  all  those  carriages  stood  before  my 
door;  once  I  dressed  all  those  noble  people;  a  wink 
would  be  sufficient  to  recall  them.  Would  I  be  untrue  to 
the  customs  of  my  fathers,  would  I  employ  French  work- 
men, all  those  carriages  would  be  arrayed  before  my  door. 
I  hold  the  destiny  of  that  contemptible  Frenchman  in 
my  hands;  a  word  from  me,  and  he  would  be  ruined; 
but  I  will  not  speak  that  word.  Let  him  live  to  the  dis- 
grace and  shame  of  the  Germans  who  abandoned  the  time- 
honored  customs  of  their  fatherland." 

The  count  offered  his  arm  to  his  bride,  and  said,  mock- 
ingly : 

"  I  thank  you  for  your  address.  I  see  that  a  German 
tailor  may  be  a  consummate  fool!  Come,  my  dear  Caro- 
line, we  will  go  to  M.  Pelissier." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  325 

Pricker  remained  alone;  grand  and  proud  he  stood  in 
the  middle  of  the  saloon,  and  looked  up,  like  a  conquering 
hero,  at  the  grim  portraits  of  his  ancestors. 

"  Be  satisfied  with  me,"  he  murmured ;  "  I  have  made 
a  new  sacrifice  to  your  names.  My  house  is  German,  and 
German  it  shall  remain." 

At  this  moment  there  arose  on  the  air  the  clear,  full 
voice  of  his  daughter,  who  was  practising  with  Quantz  a 
favorite  Italian  air  of  the  king.  "  Nel  tue  giorni  felice 
ricordati  da  me,"  sang  the  beautiful  Anna,  while  Father 
Pricker  ran,  like  a  madman,  up  and  down  the  room,  and 
stopped  his  ears,  that  he  might  not  hear  the  hateful 
sound.  He  cursed  himself  for  allowing  the  monster 
Quantz  to  come  to  the  house. 

"Alas!  alas!  I  have  closed  my  heart  to  the  new  era 
and  its  horrors,  but  I  shall  lose  my  children;  they  will 
not  wish  to  wander  in  my  ways." 

At  this  moment  Anna  entered  the  room,  with  spark- 
ling eyes  and  rosy  cheeks. 

"Father,"  she  said,  hastily,  "the  supreme  desire  of 
my  heart  will  now  be  fulfilled.  Quantz  has  at  last  prom- 
ised that  I  shall  sing  at  the  next  court  concert.  In  eight 
days  the  king  returns,  and  a  concert  will  be  arranged,  at 
which  I,  your  happy  daughter,  will  sing  an  Italian  song." 

"Italian!" 

"  She  will  sing  Italian,"  murmured  Quantz,  who  was 
listening  at  the  door.  "  She  will  give  all  the  world  an^ 
opportunity  to  laugh  and  ridicule  her,  and  I  shall  be  held 
responsible ;  I  would  rather  die !  " 

Anna  was  greatly  excited,  and  did  not  notice  her 
teacher;  and,  as  her  mother  entered  the  room,  she  em- 
braced her  warmly. 

"Mother,  mother,  Quantz  has  pronounced  me  worthy 
to  sing  at  the  court.  I  shall  cover  myself  with  glory,  and 
the  daughter  of  the  tailor  will  fill  all  Germany  with  her 
fame!" 


326  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Unhappy  child,  do  you  not  know  that  your  father  is 
present  ? " 

"  Oh,  my  father  shall  be  proud  of  me !  "  cried  Anna. 

Mother  Pricker  was  frightened  at  the  looks  of  her 
husband.     Anna  scarcely  noticed  her  parents ;  she  said : 

"  Father,  it  is  high  time  to  think  of  my  dress ;  it  must 
be  new  and  elegant." 

"  You  shall  have  it,"  said  her  father,  solemnly ;  "  it  is 
an  honor  to  sing  before  the  king.  I  will  make  you  a 
magnificent  dress  out  of  your  mother's  bridal  robe." 

Anna  laughed  contemptuously.  "  No,  no,  father ; 
the  time  is  past  when  we  dared  to  wear  the  clothes  of  our 
great-grandmothers.  The  day  is  gone  by  for  family 
relics.  How  the  ladies  of  the  court  would  laugh  at  my 
mother's  old  flowered  robe !  Besides,  the  dress  is  too  nar- 
row for  a  modern  hoop  robe,  the  only  style  now  tolerated." 

"  A  hoop  robe !  "  cried  the  father,  in  tones  of  horror ; 
"  she  wishes  to  wear  a  hoop  robe !  " 

"  Yes,  and  why  not  ? "  said  Anna.  "  Does  not  the 
beautiful  Blanche  wear  one?  and  have  not  all  the  court 
ladies  adopted  them?  No  fashionable  lady  would  dare 
now  appear  without  a  hoop  robe." 

'''  Who  is  Blanche  ?  "  cried  M.  Pricker,  rising  from  his 
chair  and  looking  threateningly  at  Anna,  "  who  is 
Blanche?" 

'Do  you  not  know,  father?  Oh,  you  are  only  pre- 
tending not  to  know !  Dearest  Blanche,  whom  I  love  like 
a  sister,  and  to  whom  I  can  only  pay  stolen  visits,  for 
her  father  is  furious  that  you  have  not  returned  his  visit, 
and  has  forbidden  any  of  his  family  to  enter  our  house." 

"  He  did  right ;  and  I  also  forbid  you  to  cross  his 
threshold.  I  thought,  Anna,  you  had  too  much  pride  to 
enter  the  house  of  your  father's  enemy,  or  speak  to  his 
daughter." 

Anna  shrugged  her  shoulders  silently,  and  now  quick 
steps  were  heard  approaching. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  327 

"Oh,  quel  pleusir  d'etre  amoreuse,"  sang  a  fresh, 
manly  voice. 

"  French ! "  cried  Father  Pricker,  wild  with  rage. 
"  William  singing  French !  " 

The  door  was  hastily  opened,  and  William,  heir  to  the 
house  of  Pricker,  stood  upon  the  sill.  He  was  arrayed 
in  a  most  charming  costume.  A  tight-fitting  coat,  short- 
waisted  and  long-tailed,  wide  sleeves,  and  large  mother- 
of-pearl  buttons;  the  cuffs  and  high-standing  collar  were 
richly  embroidered  in  silver ;  his  vest  was  "  coleur  de 
chair,"  and  instead  of  a  long  plait,  William  had  covered 
his  hair  with  a  powdered  wig.  A  small  three-cornered 
hat,  worn  jauntily  to  one  side,  was  embroidered  with 
silver,  and  ornamented  with  a  black  feather;  in  his  hand 
he  held  a  slight,  graceful  cane.  William  appeared  be- 
fore his  father  a  complete  model  of  a  new-fashioned 
French  dandy;  rage  and  horror  choked  the  old  man's  ut- 
terance. 

"  Well,  father,  do  I  please  you  ?  is  not  this  attire 
worthy  of  a  nobleman?  only  I  cannot  wear  the  white 
feather,  which  they  say  belongs  exclusively  to  the  no- 
bility." 

"  Where  did  you  get  these  clothes,  William  ?  "  said  his 
father,  approaching  him  slowly ;  "  who  gave  you  the 
money  to  pay  for  them?  It  is  a  fool's  costume!  Who 
made  it  for  you  ?  " 

"  Well,  you  gave  me  the  money,  dear  father,"  said 
William,  laughing ;  "  that  is,  you  will  give  it  to  me. 
This  handsome  suit  has  not  yet  been  paid  for.  The  name 
of  Pricker  has  a  silvery  sound ;  Pelissier  knows  that,  and 
credited  me  willingly;  though  at  first  he  refused  to  work 
for  me,  and  I  thank  Blanche  that  I  have  a  costume  from 
the  celebrated  shop  of  Pelissier." 

Old  Pricker  uttered  a  cry  of  rage,  and  seizing,  with 
feverish  violence,  the  long  tails  of  his  son's  coat,  he 
dragged  him  to  and  fro. 


328  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  So  Pelissier  made  this !  he  has  dared  to  array  my 
SOB,  the  son  and  heir  of  the  house  of  Pricker,  in  this 
ridiculous  manner!  And  you,  William,  you  were  shame- 
less enough  to  receive  this  suit  from  your  father's  enemy. 
Alas!  alas!  are  you  not  afraid  that  your  ancestors  will 
rise  from  their  graves  to  punish  you  ? " 

"  Dear  father,"  said  William,  "  it  is  only  a  costume, 
and  has  nothing  to  do  with  character  or  principle." 

"  Never  will  I  allow  my  son  to  be  lost  to  me  in  this 
manner,"  cried  Pricker ;  "  and  if  in  the  blindness  of  his 
folly  he  has  lost  himself,  I  will  bring  him  back  with  vio- 
lence, if  necessary,  to  the  right  path.  Off,  then,  with  this 
absurd  coat!  off  with  this  fool's  cap!  off  with  all  this 
livery !  " 

Pricker  now  began  to  pull  and  tear  madly  at  his  son's 
clothes;  he  knocked  his  hat  off,  and  trampled  it  under 
his  feet;  he  seized  with  both  hands  the  lace  collar,  and 
laughed  when  the  shreds  remained  in  his  hands.  Will- 
iam was  at  first  dumb  with  terror,  but  the  loud  laugh  of 
his  sister,  who  found  this  scene  amusing,  restored  his 
presence  of  mind ;  with  mad  violence  he  pushed  his  father 
from  him. 

"  Father,"  he  cried,  "  I  am  no  longer  a  boy !  I  will 
not  bear  this  treatment;  I  will  dress  as  I  like,  and  as  the 
fashions  demand." 

"  Well  spoken,  my  brother,"  said  Anna,  laughingly, 
springing  to  his  side ;  "  we  are  children  of  the  new  era, 
and  will  dress  as  it  demands.  Why  did  our  parents  give 
us  modern  educations  if  they  wished  us  to  conform  to 
old-fashioned  prejudice?" 

"  '  Honour  thy  father  and  thy  mother,  that  thy  days 
may  be  long  in  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth 
thee,'  "  said  Pricker,  solemnly. 

"  Another  Bible  verse,"  said  Anna,  mockingly.  "  The 
book  is  no  longer  fashionable ;  and  it  is  not  haK  so  amus- 
ing as  Voltaire." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  329 

"  Enough,  enough,"  said  Pricker ;  "  now  listen  to  my 
last  determination.  I  command  you  to  live  and  dress  as 
your  father  and  mother  have  dressed  before  you!  Woe 
to  you  if  you  despise  my  commands!  woe  to  you  if  you 
defy  my  authority!  I  will  disown  you — and  my  curse 
shall  be  your  inheritance;  remember  this.  If  you  ever 
enter  that  house  again,  or  speak  to  any  of  its  inhabitants 
— if  I  ever  see  you  in  this  French  livery  again,  or  if  you, 
Anna,  ever  appear  before  me  in  a  hoop  robe  and  toupe, 
from  that  moment  you  cease  to  be  my  children." 

Father  and  mother  left  the  room;  the  brother  and 
sister  remained  alone. 

"  Well,"  said  Anna,  "  do  you  intend  to  obey  these  com- 
mands ?  Will  you  wear  the  queue  and  the  narrow,  coarse 
frock  coat  ? " 

"  Nonsense,"  said  William,  "  that  Blanche  may  ridi- 
cule me,  and  all  the  world  may  laugh  at  me.  You  do  not 
know,  Anna,  how  much  Blanche  and  myself  love  each 
other;  we  have  vowed  eternal  love  and  faith,  and  she  is 
to  be  my  wife !  " 

"  You  will  then  become  an  honorable  tailor,  äs  your 
fathers  were." 

William  laughed.  "  I  follow  a  trade !  I  who  have 
received  the  education  of  a  nobleman !  no,  no,  Anna,  you 
are  not  in  earnest;  you  cannot  believe  that." 

"  Take  care,  William,  you  will  be  disinherited ;  fa- 
ther is  in  earnest." 

"  Oh,  he  will  have  to  submit,  as  old  Pelissier  must  do ; 
he  will  also  be  furious  when  he  first  learns  that  I  am  the 
husband  of  Blanche ;  he  has  threatened  her  with  his  curse 
if  she  marries  me.  But  in  spite  of  all  this  we  intend  to 
marry;  they  must  at  last  be  reconciled.  Oh,  Blanche  is 
beautiful  as  an  angel !  " 

"Nevertheless  she  is  a  tailor's  daughter,"  said 
Anna. 

"Yes,  like  my  beautiful  and  amiable  sister  Anna." 


330  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  But  I  shall  become  a  celebrated  singer,  and  the  wife 
of  a  nobleman." 

"  Well,  and  who  says  that  Blanche  will  not  be  the  wife 
of  a  celebrated  man,  and  that  you  will  not  be  proud  of 
me?" 

"  Will  you  be  a  man  or  a  woman  dressmaker  ?  " 

"  N'either  one  nor  the  other !  I  shall  be  an  actor ;  but 
silence,  this  is  my  secret  and  I  must  keep  it ! " 


CHAPTER   VI. 

IN  RHEINSBERÖ. 

The  quiet  castle  of  Rheinsberg  was  again  alive  with 
noise.  Its  halls  resounded  with  music  and  laughter;  gay 
and  happy  faces  were  everywhere  to  be  seen;  bright  jests 
to  be  heard  on  every  side.  The  charming  days  of  the 
past,  when  Frederick  was  prince  royal,  seemed  to  have 
returned;  the  same  company  now  filled  the  castle;  the 
same  sports  and  amusements  were  enjoyed.  All  was  the 
same,  yet  still,  every  thing  was  changed,  transformed. 
Almost  all  of  those  who  had  left  Rheinsberg  with  such 
proud  hopes,  such  great  desires,  were  again  there,  but  with 
annihilated  hopes.  They  had  all  expected  to  reign;  they 
had  claimed  for  themselves  honor  and  power,  but  the 
young  king  had  allowed  to  none  the  privilege  of  mount- 
ing the  throne  by  his  side.  They  were  all  welcome  com- 
panions, loved  friends.  But  none  dared  overstep  the 
boundary  of  dependence  and  submission  which  he  had 
drawn  around  them,  and  in  the  centre  of  which  he  stood 
alone,  trusting  to  his  own  strength  and  will.  They  had 
gained  nothing  from  the  crown  which  rested  upon  Fred- 
erick's noble  head;  but  they  had  lost  nothing.  They 
returned  to  Rheinsberg  not  exalted,  though  not  humbled. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  33I 

But  one  heart  was  broken,  one  heart  was  bleeding 
from  unseen  pain.  It  was  the  heart  of  Elizabeth,  the 
heart  of  that  poor  rejected  woman  who  was  called  the 
reigning  queen,  the  wife  of  Frederick. 

The  king,  on  returning  from  his  excursion  to  Stras- 
burg, had  reminded  her  of  her  promise  to  follow  him  with 
her  court  to  Rheinsberg.  And  the  poor  sufferer,  though 
she  knew  that  the  presence  of  the  king  would  be  for  her  a 
continual  torment,  an  hourly  renunciation,  could  not  find 
strength  to  resist  the  desire  of  her  own  heart.  She  had 
followed  her  husband,  saying  to  herself  with  a  painful 
smile :  "  I  will  at  least  see  him,  and  if  he  does  not  speak 
to  me  I  will  still  hear  his  voice.  My  sufferings  will  be 
greater,  but  I  shall  be  near  him.  The  joy  will  help  me  to 
bear  the  pain.  Soffri  e  taci!  "  Elizabeth  Christine  was 
right;  the  king  never  spoke  to  her,  never  fixed  those  bril- 
liant blue  eyes,  which  possessed  for  her  the  depth  and 
immensity  of  the  skies,  upon  her  pale  countenance. 
With  a  silent  bow  he  welcomed  her  daily  at  their  meals, 
but  he  did  not  now  lead  her  to  the  table  and  sit  beside  her. 
The  presence  of  the  Margrave  and  Margravine  of  Bai- 
reuth  seemed  to  impose  upon  him  the  duty  of  honoring 
his  favorite  sister,  who  was  his  guest  more  than  his  wife 
the  queen.  He  sat,  therefore,  between  his  sister  and  her 
husband  the  count,  at  whose  side  the  queen  was  placed. 
He  did  not  speak  to  her  but  she  saw  him,  and  strength- 
ened her  heart  by  the  sight  of  his  proud  and  noble  counte- 
nance. 

She  suffered  and  was  silent.  She  veiled  her  pain  by 
a  soft  smile,  she  concealed  the  paleness  of  her  cheek  with 
artificial  bloom,  she  covered  the  furrows  that  care  al- 
ready showed  in  her  lovely  and  youthful  face,  with  black, 
beauty-spots  which  were  then  the  fashion.  No  one 
should  think  that  she  suffered.  No  one  should  pity  her, 
not  even  the  king.  Elizabeth  Christine  joined  in  all  the 
pleasures  and  amusements  at  Rheinsberg.     She  laughed 


332  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

at  Bielfeld's  jests,  at  Pollnitz's  bright  anecdotes;  she  lis- 
tened with  beaming  eyes  to  Knobelsdorf's  plans  for  beau- 
tifying the  king's  residence ;  she  took  part  in  the  prepara- 
tions for  a  drama  that  was  to  be  performed.  Voltaire'3 
"  Death  of  Csesar,"  and  "  The  Frenchman  in  London,"  by 
Boissy,  had  been  chosen  by  the  king  to  be  played  at 
Kheinsberg,  and  in  each  piece  she  played  a  prominent 
role.  The  young  queen,  as  it  seemed,  had  become  an 
enthusiastic  admirer  of  the  theatre;  she  was  never 
missing  at  any  of  the  rehearsals,  and  aided  her  beauti- 
ful maids  of  honor  in  the  arrangements  of  their  cos- 
tumes. 

The  king  was  now  seldom  to  be  seen  in  the  circle  of 
his  friends  and  companions,  and  the  tones  of  his  flute 
were  rarely  to  be  heard.  He  passed  the  day  in  his  library, 
no  one  dared  disturb  him,  not  even  Guentz.  Madame 
von  Brandt,  who  had  accompanied  the  court  to  Kheins- 
berg, said,  in  one  of  her  secret  meetings  with  Count 
Manteuffel :  "  The  king  is  unfaithful  to  his  last  sweet- 
heart, he  has  abandoned  and  rejected  his  flute." 

"  But  with  what  does  the  king  occupy  himself  the 
entire  day  ? "  asked  the  count.  "  What  is  it  that  takes 
him  from  his  friends  and  fills  up  all  his  time  ? " 

"Nothing  but  scientific  studies,"  said  Madame  von 
Brandt,  shrugging  her  shoulders.  "  Fredersdorf  told  me 
that  he  busies  himself  with  maps  and  plans,  is  surrounded 
by  his  military  books,  and  is  occupied  like  an  engineer 
with  astrolabes  and  land  surveyors.  You  now  see  that 
these  are  very  innocent  occupations,  and  that  they  can 
have  no  influence  upon  our  affairs.  The  king,  I  promise 
you,  will  never  be  more  divorced  from  his  wife  than  he 
now  is ;  and  concerning  the  marriage  of  Prince  Augustus 
William,  my  plans  are  so  skilfully  laid  that  there  is  no 
danger  of  failure,  and  poor  Laura  von  Pannewitz  will 
surely  be  sacrificed.  All  is  well,  and  we  have  nothing  to 
fear  from  the  king's  innocent  studies." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  333 

"Ah,  you  call  these  innocent  studies?"  said  the 
count ;  "  I  assure  you  that  these  studies  will  greatly  dis- 
turb the  Austrian  court,  and  I  must  at  once  notify  my 
friend  Seckendorf  of  them." 

"  You  are  making  a  mountain  of  a  mole  hill,"  said 
Madame  von  Brandt,  laughing.  "  I  assure  you,  you  have 
nothing  to  fear.  It  is  true  the  king  passes  the  day  in  his 
study,  but  he  passes  his  evenings  with  us,  and  he  is  then 
as  gay,  as  unconstrained,  as  full  of  wit  and  himior  as 
ever.  Perhaps  he  makes  use  of  the  solitude  of  his  study 
to  learn  his  role,  for  to-morrow,  you  know,  we  act  the 
*  Death  of  Csesar,'  and  the  king  is  *  Brutus.' " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  said  Count  Manteuffel,  thoughtfully,  "  it 
strikes  me  the  king  is  playing  the  part  of  Brutus;  to  the 
eye  he  seems  harmless  and  gay,  but  who  knows  what 
dark  thoughts  pregnant  with  mischief  are  hid  in  his 
soul?" 

"  You  are  always  seeing  ghosts,"  said  Madame  von 
Brandt,  impatiently.  "But  hearl  the  court  clock  is 
striking  six ;  it  is  high  time  for  me  to  return  to  the  castle, 
for  at  seven  the  last  rehearsal  commences,  and  I  have  still 
to  dress."  And  Madame  von  Brandt  hastily  took  leave 
of  her  ally,  and  ran  gayly  to  the  castle. 

But  she  had  no  need  to  dress  for  the  rehearsal.  The 
king  was  not  able  to  act;  the  strong  will  was  to-day  con- 
quered by  an  enemy  who  stands  in  awe  of  no  one,  not 
even  of  a  king — an  enemy  who  can  vanquish  the  most 
victorious  commander.  Frederick  was  ill  of  a  fever, 
which  had  tormented  him  the  whole  summer,  which 
had  kept  him  from  visiting  Amsterdam,  and  which  con- 
fined him  to  his  bed  in  the  castle  of  Moyland,  while  Ort- 
taire  was  paying  his  long  expected  visit,  had  again  taken 
a  powerful  hold  upon  him  and  made  of  the  king  a  pale, 
trembling  man,  who  lay  shivering  and  groaning  upon  his 
bed,  scoffing  at  Ellart,  his  physician,  because  he  could  not 
cure  him. 

MuHLBACH  15  Vol.  1 


334  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  There  is  a  remedy,"  said  EUart,  "  but  I  dare  not  give 
it  to  your  majesty." 

"  And  why  not  ?  "  said  the  king. 

"  Because  its  strength  must  first  be  tested,  to  see  if 
it  can  be  used  without  danger;  it  must  first  be  tried  by  a 
patient  upon  whose  life  the  happiness  of  millions  does  not 
depend." 

"  A  human  life  is  always  sacred,  and  if  not  certain  of 
your  remedy,  it  is  as  vicious  to  give  it  to  a  beggar  as  to 
a  king." 

"  I  believe,"  said  Ellart,  "  as  entirely  in  this  remedy  as 
Louis  the  Fourteenth,  who  bought  it  secretly  from  Talbot, 
the  Englishman,  and  paid  him  a  hundred  Napoleons  for 
a  pound.  The  wife  of  the  King  of  Spain  was  cured 
by  it." 

"  Give  me  this  remedy,"  said  the  king,  with  chattering 
teeth. 

"  Pardon  me,  your  majesty,  but  I  dare  not,  though  I 
have  a  small  quantity  with  me  which  was  sent  by  a  friend 
from  Paris,  and  which  I  brought  to  show  you  as  a  great 
curiosity.  This  tiny  bro'WTi  powder  is  a  medicine  which 
was  not  distilled  by  the  apothecary,  but  by  Nature." 

"  Then  I  have  confidence  in  it,"  said  the  king ;  "  Na- 
ture is  the  best  physician,  the  best  apothecary,  and  what 
she  brews  is  full  of  divine  healing  power.  How  is  this 
remedy  called  ?  " 

"  It  is  the  Peruvian  bark,  or  quinine,  the  bark  above 
all  barks  which,  by  a  divine  Providence,  grows  in  Peru, 
the  land  of  fevers." 

But  the  king  had  not  the  strength  to  listen  to  him. 
He  now  lay  burning  with  fever;  a  dark  purple  covered, 
his  cheek,  and  his  eyes,  which,  but  a  few  moments  before, 
were  dull  and  lustreless,  now  sparkled  with  fire.  The 
king,  overpowered  by  the  disease,  closed  his  eyes,  and  oc- 
casionally unconnected,  senseless  words  escaped  hjls  dry, 
burning  lips. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  335 

Fredersdorf  now  entered,  and  through  the  open 
door  the  anxious,  inquiring  faces  of  Pöllnitz,  Bielfeld, 
Jordan,  and  Kaiserling  could  be  seen. 

On  tip-toe  Ellart  approached  the  private  chamberlain. 

"  How  is  the  king  ?  "  said  he,  hastily.  "  Is  he  in  a 
condition  to  hear  some  important  news  ? " 

"  Not  now.     Wait  an  hour ;  he  will  then  be  free  from 

fever." 

"  We  will  wait,"  said  Fredersdorf  to  the  four  courtiers 
who  had  entered  the  room,  and  were  now  standing  around 
the  royal  bed. 

"  Is  it  bad  news?  If  so,  I  advise  you  to  wait  until  to- 
morrow." 

"  Well,  I  do  not  believe  the  king  will  think  it  bad,"  said 
Kaiserling,  laughing. 

"And  I  am  convinced  the  king  will  be  well  pleased 
with  our  news,"  said  Bielfeld.  "  I  think  so,  because  the 
king  is  a  sleeping  hero  waiting  to  be  roused." 

"If  you  speak  so  loud,"  whispered  Pöllnitz,  "it  will 
be  you  who  will  wake  this  hero,  and  the  thunder  of  his 
anger  will  fall  upon  you." 

"Pöllnitz  is  right,"  said  Jordan;  "be  quiet,  and  let 
us  await  his  majesty's  waking."  And  the  group  stood  in 
silence  around  the  couch,  with  eyes  fixed  upon  the  king. 
He  at  last  awoke,  and  a  smile  played  upon  his  lip  as  he 
perceived  the  six  cavaliers. 

"  You  stand  there  like  mourners,"  said  he ;  "  and  to 
look  at  you  one  would  think  you  were  undertakers !  " 

"  Ah,  sire,  fever  does  not  kill  like  apoplexy,"  said  Jor- 
dan, approaching  his  friend  and  pressing  his  hand  ten- 
derly. 

"Your  majesty  called  us  undertakers,"  said  Pöllnitz, 
laughing.  "As  usual,  the  divine  prophetic  mind  of  our 
king  is  in  the  right.  There  is  certainly  a  funeral  odor 
about  us." 

"But  God  forbid  that  we  should  mourn,"  said  Biel- 


336  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

feld,  "  we  are  much  better  prepared  to  soirnd  the  battle- 
song." 

All  this  passed  while  the  physician  was  feeling  the 
king's  pulse,  and  Fredersdorf  was  tenderly  arranging 
his  pillows.  The  king  looked  at  him  inquiringly.  "  Lis- 
ten, Fredersdorf,"  said  he,  "  what  meaning  have  all  these 
mysterious  words  and  looks;  why  are  you  all  so  grave? 
Is  one  of  my  dogs  dead?  or  are  you  only  peevish  because 
this  abominable  fever  has  cheated  you  of  the  rehearsal  ? " 

"  No,  your  majesty.    The  dogs  are  in  excellent  health." 

"  The  king's  pulse  is  perfectly  quiet,"  said  Ellart, 
"  you  can  communicate  your  news  to  him."  Baron  PöU- 
nitz  approached  the  king's  couch. 

"  Sire,  one  hour  ago  a  courier  arrived  who  was  the 
bearer  of  important  information." 

"  Whence  came  he  ?  "  said  the  king,  calmly. 

"  From  your  majesty's  ambassador  in  Vienna,  Count 
Borche." 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  king,  "  is  the  empress,  our  noble  aunt, 
suffering  ?  " 

"  The  empress  is  perfectly  well,  but  her  husband,  the 
emperor " 

"  Well,  why  do  you  not  continue  ? "  said  the  king,  im- 
patiently. 

"  Would  your  majesty  not  wish  some  restorative 
first  ? "  said  Fredersdorf ;  but  the  king  pushed  him  an- 
grily away. 

"  I  wish  your  phrase,  Pöllnitz.  What  of  the  Emperor 
of  Austria  ? " 

"  Sire,  Emperor  Charles  the  Sixth  is  no  more,  he  died 
the  twentieth  of  October." 

"  Truly,"  said  Frederick,  leaning  back,  "  it  was  worth 
the  trouble  to  make  so  much  to  do  about  such  insignifi- 
cant news.  If  the  emperor  is  dead,  Maria  Theresa  will 
be  Empress  of  Germany,  that  is  all.  It  does  not  concern 
us."     He  stopped  and  closed  his  eyes. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  337 

The  physician  again  felt  his  pulse.  "It  is  perfectly 
quiet,"  said  he ;  "  this  prodigious  news  has  not  occa- 
sioned the  slightest  commotion  or  irregularity." 

"  You  are  right,"  said  the  king,  looking  up.  "  Neither 
is  the  death  of  the  Emperor  Charles  to  make  the  slightest 
change  in  our  plans,  but  to  execute  them  I  must  be  per- 
fectly well.  It  must  not  be  said  that  a  miserable  fever 
changed  my  intentions  and  condemned  me  to  idleness; 
I  must  have  no  fever  on  the  day  the  news  of  the  emperor's 
death  arrives,  or  the  good  people  of  Vienna  will  believe 
that  I  was  made  ill  with  fright.  Give  me  that  powder, 
Eilart,  I  will  take  it." 

"  But  I  told  your  majesty  that  I  cannot,  dare  not  give 
it  to  you,  for  I  have  not  tried  its  effect  yet." 

"  Then  try  it  on  me,"  said  the  king,  positively.  "  Give 
me  the  powder." 

It  was  in  vain  that  Ellart  called  upon  the  cavaliers  to 
support  his  opinion;  in  vain  that  they  begged  and  im- 
plored the  king  not  to  take  the  powder,  not  to  put  his 
life  in  danger. 

"  My  life  is  in  God's  hands,"  said  the  king,  earnestly; 
**  and  God,  who  created  me,  created  also  this  bark.  I 
trust  more  in  God's  medicine  than  in  that  of  man. 
Quick,  give  me  the  powder !  "  And  as  Ellart  still  hesi- 
tated, he  continued  in  a  stern  voice :  "  I  command  you, 
as  your  king  and  master,  to  give  it  to  me.  On  my  head 
rests  the  responsibility." 

"  If  your  majesty  commands  I  must  obey,  but  I  take 
these  gentlemen  to  witness  that  I  but  do  it  on  compul- 
sion." 

And  amid  the  breathless  silence  of  the  room,  the  king 
took  the  medicine. 

"Now  your  majesty  must  rest,"  said  Ellart;  "you 
must,  by  no  means,  return  to  Berlin ;  by  my  holy  right  of 
physician,  I  forbid  it." 

"  And  why  should  I  return  to  Berlin  ? "  said  the  king. 


338  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

laughingly.  "  Why  should  our  harmless  pleasure  and 
amusements  be  given  up?  Are  we  not  to  act  Voltaire's 
'  Death  of  Csesar  ? '  'No,  I  will  not  return  to  Berlin.  A 
trifle  such  as  the  emperor's  death  should  not  create  such 
great  disturbances.  We  will  remain  here  and  renew  our 
former  happy  days,  and  forget  that  we  have  any  duty 
but  our  enjoyment.  Now,  gentlemen,  leave  me,  I  am 
well.  You  see,  Ellart,  I  did  well  to  take  that  medicine; 
I  will  dress.  Fredersdorf,  remain  here.  Jordan,  send 
me  Secretary  Eichel.  I  must  dictate  a  few  necessary 
letters,  and  then,  gentlemen,  wo  will  meet  in  the  music 
ro,om,  where  I  am  to  play  a  duet  with  Quantz.  I  invite 
you  as  audience." 

The  king  dismissed  his  friends  with  a  gracious  smile, 
jested  gayly  with  Fredersdorf,  and  then  dictated  three 
letters  to  his  secretary.  One  was  to  Marshal  von  Schwerin, 
the  other  to  the  Prince  of  Anhalt  Dessau,  and  the 
third  to  Ambassador  Podrilse.  The  three  held  the  same 
words,  the  same  command,  telling  them  to  come  imme- 
diately to  Rheinsbprg.  He  then  entered  the  music  room, 
and  never  was  Frederick  so  gay,  so  witty,  and  uncon- 
strained; never  did  he  play  on  his  flute  more  beautifully 
than  on  the  day  he  heard  of  the  death  of  the  Emperor  of 
Germany.  The  following  morning  the  three  gentlemen 
arrived  from  Berlin  and  were  at  once  admitted  into  the 
king's  library.  Frederick  met  them  with  a  proud,  happy 
smile;  his  eye  beamed  with  an  unusual  light;  his  fore- 
head was  smooth  and  free  from  care;  he  seemed  in- 
spired. 

"The  Emperor  of  Germany  is  dead,"  said  he,  after 
the  gentlemen  were  seated.  "  The  emperor  is  dead,  and  I 
have  sent  for  you  to  see  what  benefit  we  can  derive  from 
his  death !  " 

"  Oh,  your  majesty  would  not  think  of  benefiting  by  a 
death  which  throws  a  royal  house,  nearly  connected  with 
you,  into  deep  sorrow,  and  robs  the  reigning  queen  of 


AND  HIS  COURT.  339 

Prussia  of  an  uncle !  "  cried  the  old  Prince  of  Dessau, 
solemnly. 

"  Oh,  it  is  well  known  that  you  are  an  imperialist," 
said  the  king,  laughing. 

"JSTo,  your  majesty,  but  a  difficulty  with  Austria 
would  be  a  great  misfortune  for  us." 

Frederick  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  turned  to  the 
other  two. 

"  I  also  wish  for  your  opinion,  gentlemen,"  said  he ; 
"you  are  all  men  of  experience,  soldiers,  and  statesmen, 
and  you  must  not  refuse  to  advise  one  of  my  youth  and 
inexperience." 

With  a  quiet  smile  he  listened  to  their  wise,  peaceful 
propositions. 

"  You  then  doubt  my  right  to  Silesia  ?  "  said  he,  after 
a  pause.  "  You  do  not  think  I  am  justified  in  demand- 
ing this  Silesia,  which  was  dishonestly  torn  from  my  an- 
cestors by  the  Hapsburger  ?  " 

"But  your  ancestors  still  kept  the  peace,"  said  the 
Prince  of  Dessau;  "they  left  Silesia  in  the  undisturbed 
possession  of  the  Austrians." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  king,  in  a  firm  voice, — "  and  when  my 
ancestors,  outwitted  by  the  cunning  intrigues  of  the 
Austrian  court,  accommodated  themselves  to  this  neces- 
sity,— when  for  rendered  services  they  were  rewarded  with 
base  ingratitude,  with  idle,  unmeaning  promises,  then 
they  called  upon  their  descendants  to  revenge  such  injus- 
tice, such  insults  to  their  honor  and  rights.  Frederick 
William,  the  great  Elector,  cried  prophetically  when  the 
Austrian  house  deserted  him  and  denied  her  sworn  prom- 
ises— *  A  revenger  will  rise  from  my  ashes ; '  and  my 
father,  when  he  had  witnessed  to  the  full  the  ingratitude 
of  the  Austrian  court,  felt  that  there  could  be  no  peace 
between  the  houses  of  Austria  and  Brandenburg,  and  he 
intrusted  to  me  the  holy  mission  of  pimishing  and  hu- 
miliating this  proud,  conceited  court;  he  pointed  me  out 


340  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

to  his  ministers,  and  said :  *  There  stands  one  who  will 
revenge  me ! '  You  see  that  my  ancestors  call  me,  my 
grandfather  and  father  chose  me  for  their  champion  and 
revenger;  they  call  upon  me  to  perform  that  which  they, 
prevented  by  circumstances,  could  not  accomplish;  the 
hour  which  my  ancestors  designated  has  arrived — the 
hour  of  retribution!  The  time  has  come  when  the  old 
political  system  must  undergo  an  entire  change.  The 
stone  has  broken  loose  which  is  to  roll  upon  Nebuchad- 
nezzar's image  and  crush  it.  It  is  time  to  open  the  eyes 
of  the  Austriaris,  and  to  show  them  that  the  little  Marquis 
of  Brandenburg,  whose  duty  they  said  it  was  to  hand 
the  emperor  after  meals  the  napkin  and  finger-bowl,  has 
become  a  king,  who  will  not  be  humbled  by  the  Austrians, 
and  who  acknowledges  none  but  God  as  his  master.  Will 
you  help  me ;  will  you  stand  by  me  in  this  work  with  your 
experience  and  your  advice  ?  " 

"  We  will !  "  cried  the  three,  with  animation,  borne 
away  by  the  king's  noble  ardor.  "  Our  life,  our  blood, 
belong  to  our  king,  our  country." 

Frederick  laughingly  shook  hands  with  them.  "  I 
counted  upon  you,"  said  he,  "  nor  will  Zithen  and  Vin- 
terfeldt  fail  us;  we  will  not  go  to  battle  hastily  and  un- 
prepared. All  was  foreseen,  all  prepared,  and  we  have 
now  but  to  put  in  execution  the  plans  that  have  for  some 
time  been  agitating  my  brain.  Here  is  the  map  for  our 
campaign ;  here  are  the  routes  and  the  plan  of  attack.  We 
shall  at  last  stand  before  these  Austrians  in  battle  array; 
and  as  they  dared  say  of  my  father,  that  his  gun  was  ever 
cocked  but  the  trigger  never  pulled,  we  will  show  them 
that  we  are  ready  to  discharge,  and  thrust  down  the 
double  eagle  from  its  proud  pinnacle.  The  combat  is 
determined  and  unalterable;  let  us  be  silent  and  prudent, 
no  one  must  discover  our  plans ;  we  will  surprise  the  Aus- 
trians. And  now,  gentlemen,  examine  these  plans,  and 
tell  me  if  there  are  any  changes  to  be  made  in  them." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  341 

CHAPTER   VII. 

THE   KING  AND   HIS  FRIEND. 

For  several  hours  the  king  remained  in  earnest  coun- 
cil with  his  advisers.  As  they  left  him  he  called  Jordan, 
and  advanced  to  meet  him  with  both  hands  extended. 

"Well,  Jordan,  rejoice  with  me;  my  days  of  illness 
are  over,  and  there  will  be  life  and  movement  in  this 
rusty  and  creaking  machine  of  state.  You  have  often 
called  me  a  bold  eagle,  now  we  shall  see  if  my  wings  have 
strength  to  bear  me  to  great  deeds,  and  if  my  claws  are 
sharp  enough  to  pluck  out  the  feathers  of  the  double 
eagle." 

"  So  my  suspicions  are  correct,  and  it  is  against  Aus- 
tria that  my  king  will  make  his  first  warlike  movement  ?  " 

"Yes,  against  Austria;  against  this  proud  adversary, 
who,  with  envious  and  jealous  eyes,  watches  my  every 
step;  who  is  pleased  to  look  upon  Prussia  as  her  vassal; 
whose  emperor  considered  it  beneath  his  dignity  to  ex- 
tend his  hand  to  my  father,  or  offer  him  a  seat;  and  now 
I  will  refuse  the  hand  to  Austria,  and  force  her  from  her 
comfortable  rest." 

"For  you,  also,  my  king,  will  the  days  of  quiet  be 
over;  your  holy  and  happy  hours  with  poetry,  philosophy, 
and  the  arts,  must  be  given  up.  The  favorite  of  Apollo 
will  become  the  son  of  Mars;  we  who  are  left  behind 
can  only  look  after  you,  we  can  do  nothing  for  you,  not 
even  offer  our  breasts  as  a  shield  against  danger  and 
death." 

"  Away  with  such  thoughts,"  said  Frederick,  smiling ; 
"death  awaits  us  all,  and  if  he  finds  me  on  the  field  of 
battle,  my  friends,  my  subjects,  and  history  will  not 
forget  me.     That   is   a  comfort   and   a   hope;  and   you. 


342  FREDEEICK  THE  GREAT 

Jordan,  you  know  that  I  believe  in  a  great,  exalted,  and 
almighty  Being,  who  governs  the  world.  I  believe  in 
God,  and  I  leave  my  fate  confidently  in  His  hands.  The 
ball  which  strikes  me  comes  from  Him;  and  if  I  escape 
the  battle-field,  a  murderous  hand  can  reach  me,  even  in 
my  bed-chamber;  and  surely  that  would  be  a  less  honor- 
able, less  famous  death.  I  must  do  something  great,  de- 
cisive, and  worthy  of  renown,  that  my  people  may  love  me, 
and  look  up  to  me  with  confidence  and  trust.  It  is  not 
enough  to  be  a  king  by  inheritance  and  birth,  I  must 
prove  by  my  deeds  that  I  merit  it.  Silesia  offers  me  a 
splendid  opportunity,  and  truly  I  think  the  circumstances 
afford  me  a  solid  and  sure  basis  for  fame." 

"  Alas !  I  see,"  sighed  Jordan,  that  the  love  of  your 
subjects,  and  the  enthusiastic  tenderness  of  your  friends, 
is  not  sufficient  for  you ;  you  would  seek  renown." 

"  Yes,  you  are  right ;  this  glittering  phantom.  Fame, 
is  ever  before  my  eyes.  I  know  this  is  folly,  but  when 
once  you  have  listened  to  her  intoxicating  whispers,  you 
cannot  cast  her  off.  Speak  not,  then,  of  exposure,  or 
care,  or  danger;  these  are  as  dust  of  the  balance;  I  am 
amazed  that  this  wild  passion  does  not  turn  every  man's 
head." 

"  Alas !  your  majesty,  the  thirst  for  fame  has  cost 
thousands  of  men  their  reasons  and  their  lives.  The  field 
of  battle  is  truly  the  golden  book  of  heroes,  but  their 
names  must  be  written  therein  in  blood." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  the  king,  thoughtfully,  "  a  field  of 
battle  is  a  sad  picture  for  a  poet  and  a  philosopher;  but 
every  man  in  this  world  must  pursue  his  calling,  and  I 
will  not  do  my  work  half  way.  I  love  war  for  the  sake  of 
fame.  Pity  me  not,  Jordan,  because  these  days  of  ill- 
ness and  peace  and  gayety  are  over;  because  I  must  go 
into  the  rough  field,  while  you  amuse  yourself  with  Hor- 
ace, study  Pausanias,  and  laugh  and  make  merry  with 
Anacröon.    I  envy  you  not.    Fame  beckons  me  with  her 


AND  HIS  COURT.  343 

alluring  glance.  My  youth,  the  fire  of  passion,  the  thirst 
for  renown,  and  a  mysterious  and  unconquerable  power, 
tears  me  from  this  life  of  indolence.  The  glowing  de- 
sire to  see  my  name  connected  with  great  deeds  in  the 
journals  and  histories  of  the  times  drives  me  out  into  the 
battle-field.*  There  will  I  earn  the  laurel-wreaths  which 
kings  do  not  find  in  their  cradles,  or  upon  their  throne, 
but  which  as  men,  and  as  heroes,  they  must  conquer  for 
themselves." 

"  The  laurel  will  deck  the  brow  of  my  hero,  my  Fred- 
erick, in  all  time,"  said  Jordan,  with  tears  in  his  eyes. 
"  Oh !  I  see  before  you  a  glorious  future ;  it  may  be  I 
shall  have  passed  away — but  where  will  my  spirit  be? 
When  I  stand  near  you  and  look  upon  you,  I  know  that 
the  spirit  is  immortal.  The  soul,  noble  and  god-like, 
will  be  ever  near  you;  so  whether  living  or  dead  I  am 
thine,  to  love  you  as  my  friend,  to  honor  you  as  my  sov- 
ereign, to  admire  you  as  a  gifted  genius,  glowing  with 
godly  fire." 

"  Oh,  speak  not  of  death,"  said  the  king,  "  speak  not  of 
death;  I  have  need  of  you,  and  it  seems  to  me  that  true 
friendship  must  be  strong  enough  even  to  conquer  death! 
Yes,  Jordan,  we  have  need  of  each  other,  we  belong  to 
each  other;  and  it  would  be  cruel,  indeed,  to  rob  me  of  a 
treasure  which  we,  poor  kings,  so  rarely  possess,  a  faith- 
ful and  sincere  friend.  No,  Jordan,  you  will  be  my 
Cicero  to  defend  the  justice  of  my  cause,  and  I  will  be 
your  Otesar  to  carry  out  the  cause  happily  and  trium- 
phantly." 

Jordan  was  speechless;  he  shook  his  head  sadly.  The 
king  observed  him  anxiously,  and  saw  the  deep,  feverish 
purple  spots,  those  roses  of  the  grave,  upon  the  hollow 
cheeks  of  his  friend;  he  saw  that  he  grew  daily  weaker; 
he  heard  the  hot,  quick  breathing  which  came  panting 
from  his  breast.     A  sad  presentiment  took  possession  of 

*  The  king's  own  words. 


344  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

his  heart,  the  smile  vanished  from  his  lips,  he  could  not 
conceal  his  emotion,  and  walking  to  the  window  he  leaned 
his  hot  brow  upon  the  glass  and  shed  tears  which  none 
but  God  should  see.  "  My  God !  my  God !  how  poor  is 
a  prince !  I  have  so  few  friends,  and  these  will  soon  pass 
away.  Suhm  lies  ill  in  Marschau;  perhaps  I  shall  never 
see  him  again.  Jordan  is  near  me,  but  I  see  death  in  his 
face  and  he  will  soon  be  torn  from  my  side." 

Jordan  stood  immovable  and  looked  toward  the  king, 
who  still  leaned  his  head  upon  the  window;  he  did  not 
dare  to  disturb  him,  and  yet  he  had  important  and  sad 
news  to  announce.  At  last  Jordan  laid  his  hand  upon  his 
shoulder. 

"  Pardon,  my  king,"  said  he,  in  trembling  tones,  "  par- 
don that  I  dare  to  interrupt  you;  but  a  hero  dare  not 
give  himself  up  to  sad  thoughts  before  the  battle,  and 
when  he  thinks  of  death  he  must  greet  him  with  laugh- 
ter, for  death  is  his  ally  and  his  adjutant;  and  even  if 
his  ally  grasps  his  nearest  and  best  beloved  friend,  the 
hero  and  the  conqueror  must  yield  him  up  as  an  offering 
to  victory." 

The  king  turned  quickly  toward  the  speaker.  "  You 
have  death  news  to  give  me,"  said  he  curtly,  leaning 
against  the  back  of  his  chair.  "  You  have  death  news  for 
me,  Jordan." 

"  Yes,  news  of  death,  my  prince,"  said  he,  deeply 
moved ;  "  fate  will  accustom  your  majesty  to  such  trials, 
that  your  heart  may  not  falter  when  your  friends  fall 
around  you  in  the  day  of  battle." 

"  It  is,  then,  a  friend  who  is  dead,"  said  Frederick, 
turning  pale. 

"  Yes,  sire,  your  best  beloved." 

The  king  said  nothing;  sinking  in  the  chair,  and 
grasping  the  arms  convulsively,  he  leaned  his  head  back, 
and  in  a  low  voice  asked,  "  Is  it  Suhm  ?  " 

"Yes,  it  is  Suhm;  he  died  in  Marschau.    Here  is  his 


AND   HIS  COURT.  345 

last  letter  to  your  highness;  his  brother  sent  it  to  me, 
that  I  might  hand  it  to  your  majesty." 

The  king  uttered  a  cry  of  anguish,  and  clasped  his 
hands  before  his  pallid  face.  Great  tears  ran  down  his 
cheeks; with  a  hasty  movement  he  shook  them  from  his 
eyes,  opened  and  read  the  letter.  As  he  read  it  he  sighed 
and  sobbed  aloud :  "  Suhm  is  dead !  Suhm  is  dead !  the 
friend  who  loved  me  so  sincerely,  even  as  I  loved  him. 
That  noble  man,  who  combined  intellect,  sincerity,  and 
sensibility.  My  heart  is  in  mourning  for  him;  so  long 
as  a  drop  of  blood  flows  in  my  veins  I  will  remember  him, 
and  his  family  shall  be  mine.  Ah,  my  heart  bleeds,  and 
the  wound  is  deep." 

The  king,  mastered  by  his  grief,  laid  his  head  in  his 
hand  and  wept  aloud.  Then,  after  a  long  pause,  he  raised 
himself;  he  was  calm  and  stern,  "  Jordan,"  said  he,  firm- 
ly, "  death  hath  no  more  power  over  me,  never  again  can 
he  wring  my  heart;  he  has  laid  an  iron  shield  upon  me, 
and  when  I  go  to  battle  I  must  be  triumphant;  my  friend 
has  been  offered  up  as  a  victim,  Jordan,  Jordan,  my 
wound  bleeds,  but  I  will  bind  it  up,  and  no  man  shall  see 
even  the  blood-stained  cloth  with  which  I  cover  it.  I 
have  overcome  death,  and  now  will  I  offer  battle  and  con- 
quer as  become  a  hero,  and  a  king.  What  cares  the 
world  that  I  suffer?  The  world  shall  know  nothing  of  it; 
a  mask  before  my  face,  and  silence  as  to  my  agony.  We 
will  laugh  and  jest  while  we  sorrow  for  our  friend,  and 
while  we  prepare  to  meet  the  enemy.  We  will  play 
Csesar  and  Antonius  now;  hereafter  we  may  really  imi- 
tate them.  Come,  Jordan,  come,  we  will  try  '  The  Death 
of  Cffisar.' " 


346  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 


CHAPTER   Yin. 

THE  FAREWELL  AUDIENCE  OF  MARQUIS  VON    BOTTER,  THE 
AUSTRIAN  AMBASSADOR. 

This  was  to  be  a  fete  day  in  the  royal  palace  of  Ber- 
lin, The  king  intended  giving  a  splendid  dinner,  after 
which  the  court  would  take  coffee  in  the  newly  furnished 
rooms  of  the  dowager  queen,  and  a  mask  ball  was  pre- 
pared for  the  evening,  to  which  the  court,  the  nobility, 
and  higher  officials  were  invited. 

The  court  mourning  for  the  emperor  was  at  an  end, 
and  every  one  was  determined  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of 
the  carnival.  Never  had  the  court  led  so  gay,  so  luxuri- 
ous a  life.  Even  the  good  old  citizens  of  Berlin  seemed 
to  appreciate  this  new  administration,  which  brought  so 
much  money  to  the  poorer  classes,  such  heavy  profits  to 
tradesmen.  They  believed  that  this  extravagant  court 
brought  them  greater  gains  than  an  economical  one,  and 
were  therefore  contented  with  this  new  order  of  things. 

The  king  had  refurnished  the  palace  with  an  un- 
heard of  splendor.  In  the  apartment  of  the  queen- 
mother  there  was  a  room  in  which  all  the  ornaments  and 
decorations  were  of  massive  gold.  Even  the  French  and 
English  ambassadors  were  astonished  at  this  "  Golden 
Cabinet,"  and  declared  that  such  splendor  and  magnifi- 
cence could  not  be  found  in  the  palaces  of  Paris  or 
London.  The  people  of  Berlin,  as  we  have  said,  were 
becoming  proud  of  their  court  and  their  king,  and  they 
thought  it  quite  natural  that  this  young  ruler,  who  was 
only  twenty-eight  years  old,  should  interest  himself  very 
little  in  the  afFairs  of  State,  and  should  give  his  time  to 
pleasure  and  amusement. 

The  king  had  accomplished  his  desire.     No  one  sus- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  347 

pected  the  deep  seriousness  that  he  concealed  under  this 
idle  play.  No  one  dreamed  that  this  gay,  smiling  prince, 
on  whose  lips  there  was  always  a  witty  jest  or  hon  mot; 
who  proposed  a  concert  every  evening,  in  which  he  him- 
self took  part;  who  surrounded  himself  with  artists, 
poets,  and  gay  cavaliers,  with  whom  he  passed  many 
nights  of  wild  mirth  and  gayety — ^no  one  dreamed  that 
this  harmless,  ingenuous  young  prince,  was  on  the  point 
of  overthrowing  the  existing  politics  of  the  European 
states,  and  of  giving  an  entirely  new  form  to  the  whole  of 
Germany. 

The  king  had  not  raised  his  mask  for  a  moment;  he 
had  matured  his  plans  under  the  veil  of  inviolate  secrecy. 
The  moment  of  their  accomplishment  had  now  arrived; 
this  evening,  during  the  mask  ball  which  had  been  pre- 
pared with  such  pomp  and  splendor,  the  king  with  his 
regiments  would  leave  Berlin  and  proceed  to  Silesia. 
But  even  the  troops  did  not  know  their  destination.  The 
journals  had  announced  that  the  army  would  leave  Berlin 
to  go  into  new  winter  quarters,  and  this  account  was  gen- 
erally believed.  Only  a  few  confidants,  and  the  generals 
who  were  to  accompany  the  king,  were  acquainted  with 
this  secret.  The  king,  after  a  final  conference,  in  which 
he  gave  the  last  instructions  and  orders,  said: 

"  Now,  gentlemen,  that  we  have  arranged  our  business, 
we  will  think  of  our  pleasure.  I  will  see  you  this  evening 
at  the  ball;  we  will  dance  once  more  with  the  ladies  be- 
fore we  begin  our  war-dance." 

As  the  generals  left  him,  his  servant  entered  to  assist 
at  his  toilet.  Pelissier,  the  French  tailor,  had  prepared  a 
new  and  magnificent  costume  for  this  evening,  made  in 
the  latest  Parisian  style.  The  king  desired  to  appear 
once  more  in  great  splendor  before  exchanging  the  saloon 
for  the  camp.  Never  had  he  bestowed  such  care  upon  his 
toilet;  never  had  he  remained  so  patiently  under  the 
hands  of  the  barber;  he  even  went  to  the  large  mirror 


348  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

when  his  toilet  was  completed,  and  carefully  examined  his 
appearance  and  costly  dress. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  smiling,  "  if  the  Marquis  von  Better 
is  not  deceived  by  this  dandy  that  I  see  before  me,  it  is 
not  my  fault.  The  good  Austrian  ambassador  must  be 
very  cunning  indeed  if  he-  discovers  a  warrior  in  this 
perfumed  fop.  I  think  he  will  be  able  to  tell  my  cousin, 
Maria  Theresa,  nothing  more  than  that  the  King  of 
Prussia  knows  how  to  dress  himself,  and  is  the  model  of 
fashion." 

The  king  passed  into  the  rooms  of  the  queen-mother, 
where  the  court  was  assembled,  and  where  he  had  granted 
a  farewell  audience  to  the  Marquis  von  Botter,  the  am- 
bassador of  the  youthful  Empress  of  Austria.  Frederick 
was  right:  the  marquis  had  been  deceived  by  the  mask 
of  harmless  gayety  and  thoughtless  happiness  assumed  by 
the  king  and  court.  He  had  been  sent  by  the  empress 
with  private  instructions  to  sound  the  intentions  of  the 
Prussian  king,  while  his  apparent  business  was  to  return 
her  acknowledgments  for  the  congratulations  of  the  King 
of  Prussia  on  her  ascension  to  the  throne. 

The  Marquis  von  Botter,  as  we  have  said,  had  been 
deceived  by  the  gay  and  thoughtless  manner  of  the  king, 
and  Manteuffel's  warnings  and  advice  had  been  thrown 
away. 

The  marquis  had  withdrawn  with  ManteufFel  to  one  of 
the  windows,  to  await  the  entrance  of  the  king ;  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  of  the  court  were  scattered  through  the 
rooms  of  the  queen-mother,  who  was  playing  cards  with 
Queen  Christine  in  the  golden  cabinet. 

"  I  leave  Berlin,"  said  the  marquis,  "  with  the  firm 
conviction  that  the  king  has  the  most  peaceful  inten- 
tions." 

"  As  early  as  to-morrow  your  convictions  will  be  some- 
what shaken,"  replied  Manteuffel,  "for  this  night  the 
king  and  his  army  depart  for  Silesia." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  349 

At  this  moment  the  king  appeared  at  the  door  of  the 
golden  cabinet.  There  was  a  sudden  silence,  and  all 
bent  low,  bowing  before  the  brilliant  young  monarch. 

Frederick  bowed  graciously,  but  remained  in  the  door- 
way, glancing  over  the  saloon;  it  appeared  to  afford  him 
a  certain  pleasure  to  exhibit  himself  to  the  admiring  gaze 
of  those  present.  He  stood  a  living  picture  of  youth, 
beauty,  and  manliness. 

"  Only  look  at  this  richly-dressed,  elegant  young  man," 
whispered  Marquis  von  Better;  "look  at  his  youthful 
countenance,  beaming  with  pleasure  and  delight;  at  his 
hands,  adorned  with  costly  rings,  so  white  and  soft,  that 
they  would  do  honor  to  the  most  high-bred  lady;  at  that 
slender  foot,  in  its  glittering  shoe.  Do  you  wish  to  con- 
vince me  that  this  small  foot  will  march  to  battle;  that 
this  delicate  hand,  which  is  only  fitted  to  hold  a  smelling- 
bottle  or  a  pen,  will  wield  a  sword  ?  Oh !  my  dear  count, 
you  make  me  merry  with  your  gloomy  prophecies." 

"  Still  I  entreat  you  to  believe  me.  As  soon  as  your 
audience  is  over,  hasten  to  your  hotel,  and  return  to 
Vienna  with  all  possible  speed ;  allow  yourself  no  hour  of 
sleep,  no  moment  for  refreshment,  until  you  have  in- 
duced your  empress  to  send  her  army  to  Silesia.  If  you 
do  not,  if  you  despise  my  advice,  the  King  of  Prussia 
will  reach  Silesia  before  you  are  in  Vienna,  and  the  em- 
press will  receive  this  intelligence  which  you  do  not 
credit  from  the  fleeing  inhabitants  of  her  province,  which 
will  have  been  conquered  without  a  blow." 

The  deep  earnestness  of  the  count  had  in  it  something 
so  impressive,  so  convincing,  that  the  marquis  felt  his 
confidence  somewhat  shaken,  and  looked  doubtfully  at  the 
young  monarch,  who  was  now  smiling  and  conversing 
with  some  of  the  ladies. 

But  even  in  speaking  the  king  had  not  lost  sight  of 
these  two  gentlemen  who  were  leaning  against  the  win- 
dow, and  whose  thoughts  he  read  in  their  countenances. 


350  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

He  now  met  the  eye  of  the  marquis,  and  motioned  to  him 
to  come  forward.  The  marquis  immediately  approached 
the  king,  who  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  saloon,  sur- 
rounded by  his  generals. 

Every  eye  was  turned  toward  the  glittering  group,  in 
which  the  young  king  was  prominent :  for  those  to  whom 
the  intentions  of  the  king  were  known,  this  was  an  in- 
teresting piece  of  acting;  while  for  the  uninitiated, 
who  had  only  an  uncertain  suspicion  of  what  was 
about  to  happen,  this  was  a  favorable  moment  for  obser- 
vation. 

The  Austrian  ambassador  now  stood  before  the  king, 
making  a  deep  and  ceremonious  bow.  The  king  returned 
this  salutation,  and  said: 

"  You  have  really  come  to  take  leave,  marquis  ?  " 

"  Sire,  her  majesty,  my  honored  empress,  recalls  me, 
and  I  must  obey  her  commands,  happy  as  I  should  be,  if 
I  were  privileged,  to  sun  myself  still  longer  in  your  noble 
presence." 

"  It  is  true,  a  little  sunshine  would  be  most  beneficial 
to  you,  marquis.     You  will  have  a  cold  journey." 

"  Ah !  your  majesty,  the  cold  is  an  evil  that  could 
easily  be  endured." 

"  There  are,  then,  other  evils  which  will  harass  you  on 
your  journey  ? " 

"  Yes,  sire,  there  is  the  fearful  road  through  Silesia, 
that  lamentable  Austrian  province.  Ah!  your  majesty, 
this  is  a  road  of  which  in  your  blessed  land  you  have  no 
idea,  and  which  is  happily  unknown  in  the  other  Austrian 
provinces.  This  poor  Silesia  has  given  only  care  and  sor- 
row to  the  empress;  but,  perhaps,  for  that  reason,  she 
loves  it  so  well,  and  would  so  gladly  assist  it.  But  even 
Nature  seems  to  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  her  noble 
intentions.  Heavy  rains  have  destroyed  the  roads  which 
had,  with  great  expense,  been  rendered  passable,  and  I 
learn,  to  my  horror,  that  it  is  scarcely  possible  for  a 


AND  HIS  COURT.  351 

traveller  to  pass  them  without  running  the  greatest 
danger." 

"  Well,"  said  the  king,  quietly,  "  I  imagine  that  noth- 
ing could  happen  to  the  traveller  that  could  not  be  reme- 
died by  a  bath  and  a  change  of  dress." 

"  Excuse  me,  sire,"  cried  the  marquis,  eagerly,  "  he 
would  risk  his  health,  yes,  even  his  life,  in  crossing  the 
deep  marshes,  covered  with  standing  water,  which  are 
common  in  that  country.  Oh!  those  are  to  be  envied 
who  need  not  expose  themselves  to  this  danger." 

The  king  was  wearied  with  this  crafty  diplomatic 
play;  he  was  tired  of  the  piercing  glances  with  which 
the  ambassador  examined  his  countenance.  In  the  firm 
conviction  of  his  success,  and  the  noble  pride  of  his  open 
and  truth-loving  nature,  it  pleased  him  to  allow  the  mask 
to  fall,  which  had  concealed  his  heroic  and  warlike  in- 
tentions from  the  marquis.  The  moment  of  action  had 
arrived;  it  was,  therefore  no  longer  necessary  to  wear  the 
veil  of  secrecy. 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  king,  in  a  loud,  firm  voice,  "  if 
you  feel  so  great  a  dread  of  this  journey,  I  advise  you 
to  remain  in  Berlin.  I  will  go  in  your  place  into  Silesia, 
and  inform  my  honored  cousin,  Maria  Theresa,  with  the 
voice  of  my  cannon,  that  the  Silesian  roads  are  too  dan- 
gerous for  an  Austrian,  but  are  most  convenient  for  the 
King  of  Prussia  to  traverse  on  his  way  to  Breslau." 

"  Your  majesty  intends  marching  to  Breslau  ? "  asked 
the  horrified  marquis. 

"  Yes,  sir,  to  Breslau ;  and  as  you  remarked,  the  roads 
are  too  dangerous  for  a  single  traveller,  and  I  intend  tak- 
ing my  army  with  me  to  protect  my  carriage." 

"  Oh ! "  exclaimed  the  marquis,  "  your  majesty  in- 
tends making  a  descent  on  the  lands  of  my  exalted  sov- 
ereign ? " 

The  king  glanced  proudly  and  scornfully  at  this  dar- 
ing man.    An  involuntary  murmur  arose  among  the  cour- 


352  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

tiers;  the  hands  of  the  generals  sought  their  sworäs,  as 
if  they  would  challenge  this  presumptuous  Austrian,  who 
dared  to  reproach  the  King  of  Prussia. 

The  king  quieted  his  generals  with  a  slight  motion  of 
his  hand,  and  turning  again  to  the  marquis,  he  said,  com- 
posedly, "  You  express  yourself  falsely,  marquis.  I  will 
make  no  descent  upon  the  lands  of  the  Empress  of  Aus- 
tria; I  will  only  reclaim  what  is  mine — mine  by  acknowl- 
edged right,  by  inheritance,  and  by  solemn  contract.  The 
records  of  this  claim  are  in  the  state  department  of  Aus- 
tria, and  the  empress  need  only  read  these  documents  to 
convince  herself  of  my  right  to  the  province  of  Silesia." 

"  Your  majesty,  by  this  undertaking,  may,  perhaps, 
ruin  the  house  of  Austria,  but  you  will  most  certainly 
destroy  your  own." 

"  It  depends  upon  the  empress  to  accept  or  reject  the 
propositions  which  I  have  made  to  her  through  my  am- 
bassador in  Vienna." 

The  marquis  glanced  ironically  at  the  king,  and  said, 
"  Sire,  your  troops  are  fair  to  see ;  the  Austrian  army  has 
not  that  glittering  exterior,  but  they  are  veterans  who 
have  already  stood  fire." 

"You  think  my  troops  are  showy,"  he  said,  impetu- 
ously ;  "  eh  hien,  I  will  convince  you  that  they  are  equally 
brave." 

Thus  speaking,  the  king  gave  the  Austrian  ambas- 
sador a  bow  of  dismissal.  The  audience  was  at  an  end. 
The  ambassador  made  a  ceremonious  bow,  and  left  the 
room,  amid  profound  silence. 

Scarcely  had  the  door  closed  behind  him  before  the 
noble  countenance  of  the  king  had  recovered  its  usual 
calm  and  lofty  expression. 

He  said  gayly:  "  Mesdames  et  messieurs,  it  is  time  to 
prepare  for  the  mask  ball;  I  have  thrown  aside  my  mask 
for  a  moment,  but  you,  doubtless,  think  it  time  to  assume 
yours.    Farewell  until  then." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  353 

CHAPTER   IX. 

THE  MASQUERADE. 

The  saloons  were  brilliantly  illuminated,  and  a  train 
of  gayly  intermingled,  fantastically  attired  figures  were 
moving  to  and  fro  in  the  royal  palace.  It  seemed  as  if 
the  representatives  of  all  nations  had  come  together  to 
greet  the  heroic  young  king.  Greeks  and  Turks  were 
there  in  gold-embroidered,  bejewelled  apparel.  Odalisks, 
Spanish,  Russian,  and  German  peasant  women  in  every 
variety  of  costume;  glittering  fairies,  sorceresses,  and 
fortune-telling  gypsies;  grave  monks,  ancient  knights  in 
silver  armor,  castle  dames,  and  veiled  nuns.  It  was  a 
magnificent  spectacle  to  behold,  these  splendidly  decorated 
saloons,  filled  with  so  great  a  variety  of  elegant  cos- 
tumes; and  had  it  not  been  for  the  lifeless,  grinning,  and 
distorted  faces,  one  might  have  imagined  himself 
transported  to  Elysium,  where  all  nations  and  all  races 
are  united  in  unclouded  bliss.  But  the  cold,'  glittering 
masks  which  concealed  the  bright  faces,  sparkling  with 
animation  and  pleasure,  somewhat  marred  the  effect  of 
this  spectacle,  and  recalled  the  enraptured  spectator  to  the 
present,  and  to  the  stern  reality. 

Only  in  the  last  of  these  saloons  was  there  an  un- 
masked group.  In  this  room  sat  the  two  queens,  glitter- 
ing with  gems,  for  it  was  no  longer  necessary  for  Sophia 
Dorothea  to  conceal  her  jewels;  without  fear  she  could 
now  appear  before  her  court  in  her  magnificent  diamonds ; 
and  Elizabeth  Christine,  who  knew  well  that  her  husband 
loved  to  see  his  queen  appear  in  a  magnificence  befitting 
her  dignity  on  festive  occasions,  had  adorned  herself  with 
the  exquisite  jewelry  which  excited  the  admiration  of  the 
entire  court,  and  which  Baron  Bielfeld  declared  to  be  a 


354  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

perfect  miracle  of  beauty.  Next  to  the  two  queens  and 
the  princesses  Ulrica  and  Amelia,  stood  the  king  in  his 
magnificent  ball  costume.  Behind  the  royal  family  stood 
their  suite,  holding  their  masks  in  their  hands,  for  all 
were  required  to  uncover  their  faces  on  entering  the  room 
in  which  the  royal  family  were  seated. 

The  king  and  the  queen  were  about  to  fulfil  the  prom- 
ises they  had  made  each  other;  Sophia  Dorothea  was 
about  to  receive  Coimt  l^Teal,  while  the  king  was  to  wel- 
come the  recently  married  Countess  Ehedem  to  court. 

The  loud  and  ironical  voice  of  the  master  of  cere- 
monies. Baron  Pöllnitz,  had  just  announced  to  the  royal 
family  the  arrival  of  Count  and  Countess  Ehedern  and 
Count  Neal,  and  they  were  now  entering  the  saloon,  the 
sanctuary  which  was  only  open  to  the  favored  and  priv- 
ileged, only  to  those  of  high  birth,  or  those  whose  offices 
required  them  to  be  near  the  king's  person.  No  one  else 
could  enter  this  saloon  without  special  invitation. 

The  newly-made  Countess  Ehedern  made  her  entrance 
on  the  arm  of  her  husband.  Her  face  was  perfectly  tran- 
quil and  grave;  an  expression  of  determination  rested  on 
her  features,  which,  although  no  longer  possessing  the . 
charm  of  youth  and  beauty,  were  still  interesting.  Her 
countenance  was  indicative  of  energy  and  decision.  An 
expression  of  benevolence  played  around  her  large  but 
well-formed  mouth;  and  her  dark  eyes,  which  were  not 
cast  down,  but  rested  quietly  on  the  royal  family,  ex- 
pressed so  much  spirit  and  intelligence  that  it  was  evi- 
dent she  was  no  ordinary  woman,  but  a  firm  and  resolute 
one,  who  had  courage  to  challenge  fate,  and,  if  necessary, 
to  shape  her  own  destiny. 

But  the  proud  and  imperious  Queen  Sophia  Dorothea 
felt  disagreeably  impressed  by  the  earnest  glances  with 
which  the  countess  regarded  her.  If  she  had  approached 
her  tremblingly,  and  with  downcast  eyes,  crushed,  as  it 
were,  by  the  weight  of  this  unheard-of  condescension  on 


AND  HIS  COURT.  355 

the  part  of  royalty,  the  queen  would  have  been  inclined 
to  pardon  her  want  of  birth,  and  to  forget  her  nameless 
descent:  but  the  quiet  and  unconstrained  bearing  of  the 
newly  created  countess  enraged  her.  Moreover,  she  felt 
offended  by  the  elegant  and  costly  toilet  of  the  countess. 
The  long  silver-embroidered  train,  fastened  to  her  shoul- 
ders with  jewelled  clasps,  was  of  a  rarer  and  more  costly 
material  than  even  the  robe  of  the  queen;  the  diadem, 
necklace,  and  jewelled  bracelets  could  rival  the  parure 
of  the  queen,  and  the,  latter  experienced  almost  a  sensa- 
tion of  envy  at  the  sight  of  the  large  fan  which  the  coun- 
tess held  half  open  in  her  hand,  and  with  which  the  queen 
had  nothing  that  could  compare.  The  fan  was  of  real 
Chinese  workmanship,  and  ornamented  with  incompara- 
ble carvings  in  ivory,  and  beautiful  paintings. 

The  queen  acknowledged  the  thrice-repeated  courtesy 
of  Countess  Rhedern,  with  a  slight  inclination  of  the 
head  only,  while  Queen  Elizabeth  Christine  greeted  her 
with  a  gracious  smile. 

The  king,  who  noticed  the  cloud  gathering  on  his 
mother's  brow,  and  very  well  knew  its  cause,  was  amused 
to  see  the  queen-mother,  who  had  so  warmly  advocated 
the  reception  of  Countess  Rhedern  at  court,  now  receive 
her  so  coldly;  and  wishing  to  jest  with  his  mother  on  the 
subject  of  this  short-lived  fancy,  he  greeted  the  countess 
very  graciously,  and  turning  to  his  mother,  said : 

"  You  have  done  well,  madame,  to  invite  this  beautiful 
countess  to  court;  she  will  be  a  great  acquisition,  a  great 
ornament." 

"  A  great  ornament,"  repeated  Sophia  Dorothea,  who 
now  considered  the  quiet  and  unconstrained  bearing  of 
the  countess  as  disrespectful  to  herself;  and  fixing  her 
proud  and  scornful  glances  upon  her  as  she  contemptu- 
ously repeated  the  king's  words,  she  said :  "  What  a  singu- 
lar train  you  wear !  " 

"It  is   of   Indian  manufacture,"   said  the   countess, 


356  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

quietly ;  "  my  father  is  connected  with  several  mercantile 
houses  in  Holland,  and  from  one  of  these  I  obtained  the 
curious  cloth  which  has  attracted  your  majesty's  atten- 
tion." 

Sophia  Dorothea  reddened  with  shame  and  indigna- 
tion. This  woman  had  the  audacity  not  only  not  to  be 
ashamed  of  her  past  life,  over  which  she  should  have 
drawn  a  veil,  but  she  dared  in  this  brilliant  company,  in 
the  presence  of  two  queens,  to  speak  of  her  father's  busi- 
ness relations — even  while  the  queen  magnanimously 
wished  to  forget,  and  veil  the  obscurity  of  her  birth. 

"  Ah !  "  said  the  queen-mother,  "  you  wear  an  article 
from  your  father's  shop!  Truly,  a  convenient  and  in- 
genious mode  of  advertising  your  father's  goods;  and 
hereafter  when  we  regard  Coimtess  Rhedern,  we  will 
know  what  is  her  father's  latest  article  of  trade." 

The  smile  which  the  queen  perceived  upon  the  lips  of 
her  suite  was  a  sufficient  reward  for  her  cruel  jest.  The 
eyes  of  all  were  scornfully  fixed  upon  the  countess,  whose 
husband  stood  at  her  side,  pale  and  trembling,  and  with 
downcast  eyes.  But  the  young  countess  remained  per- 
fectly composed. 

"  Pardon  me,  your  majesty,"  said  she,  in  a  full,  clear 
voice,  "  for  daring  to  contradict  you,  but  my  father's 
business  is  too  well  known  to  need  any  such  advertise- 
ment." 

"  Well,  then,  in  what  does  he  deal  ? "  said  the  queen, 
angrily. 

"  Your  majesty,"  said  the  countess,  bowing  respect- 
fully, "  my  father's  dealings  are  characterized  by  wisdom, 
honor,  generosity,  and  discretion." 

The  queen's  eyes  flashed;  a  shopkeeper's  daughter  had 
dared  to  justify  herself  before  the  queen,  and  to  defy  and 
scoff  at  her  anger. 

She  arose  proudly.  She  wished  to  annihilate  this 
newly-created    countess    with    her    withering    contempt. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  357 

But  the  king,  who  perceived  the  signs  of  a  coming  storm 
upon  his  mother's  brow,  determined  to  prevent  this  out- 
break. It  wounded  his  noble  and  generous  soul  to  see  a 
poor,  defenceless  woman  tormented  in  this  manner.  He 
was  too  noble-minded  to  take  offence  at  the  quiet  and  com- 
posed bearing  of  the  countess,  which  had  excited  his 
mother's  anger.  In  her  display  of  spirit  and  intelligence, 
he  forgot  her  lowly  birth,  and  laying  his  hand  gently  upon 
his  mother's  shoulder  he  said,  with  a  smile : 

"  Does  not  your  majesty  think  that  Countess  Ehedem 
does  honor  to  her  birth?  Her  father  deals  in" wisdom, 
honor,  and  generosity.  Well,  it  seems  to  me  that  Coun- 
tess Rhedern  has  inherited  these  noble  qualities.  My 
dear  countess,  I  promise  you  my  patronage,  and  will  ever 
be  a  devoted  customer  of  your  house  if  you  prove  worthy 
of  your  father." 

"  That  I  can  promise  your  majesty,"  said  the  countess, 
an  expression  of  proud  delight  flitting  over  her  counte- 
nance, and  almost  rendering  it  beautiful ;  "  and  will  your 
majesty  have  the  kindness,  at  some  future  time,"  said  she, 
taking  her  husband's  arm,  "  to  convince  yourself  that  the 
house  of  Rhedern  and  Company,  to  which  your  majesty 
has  so  graciously  promised  his  patronage,  is  in  a  condi- 
tion to  satisfy  his  requirements?" 

The  queen-mother  could  hardly  suppress  a  cry  of 
anger  and  indignation.  The  countess  had  dared  to  give 
the  king  an  invitation.  She  had  committed  a  breach 
of  etiquette  which  could  only  be  accounted  for  by  the 
most  absolute  ignorance,  or  the  greatest  impertinence, 
and  one  which  the  king  would  assuredly  punish. 

But  Sophia  Dorothea  was  mistaken.  Bowing  low, 
the  king  said,  with  that  kindliness  of  manner  which  was 
peculiar  to  himself:  "I  will  take  the  very  first  oppor- 
tunity of  paying  your  establishment  a  visit." 

Sophia  Dorothea  was  very  near  fainting;  she  could 
Stand  this  scene  no  longer;  and  giving  herself  up  entirely 

MuHLBACH  16  Vol.  1 


358  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

to  her  anger,  she  was  guilty  of  the  same  fault  which  the 
countess  had  committed  through  ignorance.  Forgetful 
of  etiquette,  she  assumed  a  right  which  belonged  to  the 
reigning  king  and  queen  alone.  Arising  hastily  from  her 
seat,  she  said,  impatiently: 

"I  think  it  is  time  we  should  join  the  dancers.  Do 
you  not  find  the  music  very  beautiful  and  enticing?  Let 
us  go." 

The  king  smilingly  laid  his  hand  on  her  arm.  "  You 
forget,  madame,  that  there  is  another  happy  man  who 
longs  to  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  your  countenance.  You 
forget,  madame,  that  Coimt  Keal  is  to  have  the  honor  of 
an  introduction." 

The  queen  gave  her  son  one  of  those  proud,  resigned, 
and  reproachful  looks  which  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of 
directing  toward  Frederick  William  during  her  wedded 
life.     She  felt  conquered,  humbled,  and  powerless. 

The  imperious  expression  fled  from  her  brow,  and 
found  refuge  in  her  eyes  only.  "  And  this,  too !  "  mur- 
mured she,  sinking  back  on  her  seat.  She  barely  heard 
Count  Neal's  introduction.  She  acknowledged  his  re- 
spectful greeting  with  a  slight  inclination  of  the  head, 
and  remained  silent. 

The  king,  who  to-day  seemed  to  be  in  a  conciliatory 
mood,  again  came  to  the  rescue. 

"  Madame,"  said  he,  "  Count  ISTeal  is  indeed  an  en- 
viable man;  he  has  seen  what  we  will  probably  never  see. 
He  has  been  in  the  lovely,  luxurious,  and  dreamy  South; 
he  has  seen  the  sun  of  India;  he  was  governor  of  Suri- 
nam." 

*' Pardon  me,  your  majesty,"  said  the  count,  proudly; 
''  I  was  not  only  governor,  but  vice-regent." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  king,  "  and  what  are  the  prerogatives 
of  a  vice-regent  ?  " 

"  I  was  there  esteemed  as  your  majesty  is  here.  The 
governor  of  Surinam  is  approached  with  the  same  sub- 


AND  HIS  COUET.         •  359 

mission,  humility,  and  devotion,  he  enjoys  the  same  hom- 
age as  the  King  of  Prussia." 

"Ah,  you  are  then  an  equal  of  the  King  of  Prussia? 
Baron  Pöllnitz,  you  have  been  guilty  of  a  great  oversight; 
you  have  forgotten  to  provide  a  seat  for  my  brother,  the 
King  of  Surinam.  You  must  be  indulgent  this  time,  my 
dear  brother,  but  at  the  next  ball  we  will  not  forget  that 
you  are  a  vice-regent  of  Surinam,  and  woe  to  the  baron  if 
he  does  not  then  provide  a  chair ! " 

He  then  took  his  mother's  arm,  and  signing  to  Prince 
Augustus  William  to  follow  him  with  the  reigning  queen, 
proceeded  to  the  ball-room. 

On  arriving  there  he  released  his  mother's  arm  and 
said :  "  If  agreeable  to  you,  we  will  lay  aside  etiquette  for 
a  short  time  and  mingle  with  the  dancers."  And  with- 
out awaiting  an  answer,  the  king  bowed  and  hurried  oS 
into  the  adjoining  room,  followed  by  Pöllnitz.  He  there 
assumed  a  domino  and  mask. 

The  entire  court  followed  the  king's  example.  The 
prince,  and  even  the  reigning  queen,  took  advantage  of 
his  permission. 

The  queen  was  deserted  by  her  suite,  and  left  almost 
entirely  alone  in  the  large  saloon.  Her  marshal.  Count 
Ehedern,  his  wife,  and  the  page  who  held  her  train,  were 
the  only  persons  who  remained.  Sophia  Dorothea  heaved 
a  deep  sigh;  she  felt  that  she  was  no  longer  a  queen, 
but  a  poor  widow  who  had  vacated  the  throne.  Hap- 
pily, Countess  Ehedern,  the  wife  of  her  marshal,  was 
Btill  there;  upon  her  she  could  at  least  vent  her  rage. 

"Madame,"  said  she,  looking  angrily  at  the  countess 
"your  train  is  too  long;  you  should  have  brought  some  of 
the  lads  from  your  father's  store  to  carry  this  train  for 
you,  in  order  that  it  might  be  more  minutely  examined." 

The  countess  bowed.  "  Your  majesty  must  pardon  me 
for  not  having  done  so,  but  my  father's  assistants  are  not 
.*t  my  disposal.    But  perhaps  we  can  find  a  remedy  if 


360  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT     " 

your  majesty  really  thinks  I  need  a  train-bearer.  I  sug- 
gest that  some  of  my  father's  principal  debtors  should  fill 
this  place.  I  believe  these  gentlemen  would  willingly 
carry  my  train  if  my  father  would  grant  them  a  respite. 
If  your  majesty  agrees  to  this  proposition,  I  shall  at  once 
select  two  of  your  noblest  cavaliers  for  my  train-bearers, 
and  will  then  no  longer  put  your  brilliant  court  to 
shame." 

The  queen  did  not  reply;  she  cast  an  angry  glance  at 
the  quiet  and  composed  countess,  and  then  walked  quietly 
toward  the  throne,  around  which  the  royal  family  had 
now  assembled. 


CHAPTEK   X. 

THE  MASKERS. 


The  king,  with  the  assistance  of  PöUnitz,  had  now 
completed  his  toilet;  he  did  not  wish  to  be  recognized, 
and  his  dress  was  similar  to  hundreds  of  others  who  were 
wandering  through  the  rooms. 

"  Do  you  think  I  will  be  known  ? " 

"  No,  sire,  it  is  not  possible.  ISTow  have  the  goodness 
to  push  your  mask  slightly  over  your  eyes;  they  might 
perhaps  betray  you." 

"  Well,  these  eyes  will  soon  see  some  curious  things. 
Did  you  ever  stand  upon  a  battle-field  as  a  conqueror, 
surrounded  by  corpses,  all  your  living  enemies  having 
fled  before  you  ?  " 

"  Heaven  in  its  mercy  preserve  me  from  such  a  sight ! 
My  enemies,  sire,  have  never  fled  from  me;  they  chase 
me  and  threaten  me,  and  it  is  of  God's  great  mercy  that  I 
have  always  escaped  them." 

"  Who  are  these  pursuing  enemies  of  yours  ? " 


AND  ms  COURT.  361 

"They  are  my  creditors,  your  majesty,  and  you  may 
-well  believe  that  they  are  more  terrible  to  me  than  a 
battle-field  of  corpses.  Unhappily,  they  still  live,  and  the 
fiends  torment  me." 

"  Well,  Pöllnitz,  after  I  have  seen  my  first  battle-field, 
in  the  condition  I  have  just  described  to  you,  and  re- 
turned home  victorious,  I  will  assist  you  to  kill  off  your 
rapacious  enemies.  Until  then  keep  bravely  on  the  de- 
fensive. Come,  let  us  go,  I  have  only  half  an  hour  left 
for  pleasure." 

The  king  opened  the  door  of  the  cabinet,  and,  jesting 
merrily,  he  mingled  with  the  crowd,  while  Pöllnitz  re- 
mained near  the  door,  and  cast  a  searching  glance  around 
the  room.  Presently  a  mocking  smile  flitted  over  his 
face,  and  he  said  to  himself :  "  There,  there  are  all  three 
of  them.  There  is  the  modestly  dressed  nun  who  would 
not  be  recognized  as  Madame  von  Morien.  There  is 
the  king  of  cards,  Manteuffel,  who  is  not  yet  aware  that 
a  quick  eye  has  seen  his  hand,  and  his  trumps  are  all 
in  vain.  There  at  last  is  Madame  von  Brandt,  'The 
Gypsy,'  telling  fortunes,  and  having  no  presentiment  of 
the  fate  awaiting  herself.  A  little  scrap  of  paper  care- 
lessly lost  and  judiciously  used  by  the  lucky  finder  is 
quite  sufficient  to  unmask  three  of  the  worldly  wise." 

"Well,  baron,"  whispered  the  nun,  "will  you  fulfil 
your  promise  ? " 

"  Dear  Madame  von  Morien,"  replied  Pöllnitz,  shrug- 
ging his  shoulders,  "the  king  expressly  commanded  me 
not  to  betray  him." 

"  Pöllnitz,"  said  the  nun,  with  a  tearful  voice,  "  have 
pity  upon  me ;  tell  me  the  disguise  of  the  king ;  you  shall 
not  only  have  my  eternal  gratitude— but  look,  I  know  you 
love  diamonds;  see  this  costly  pin,  which  I  will  give  for 
the  news  I  crave." 

"  It  is  impossible  for  poor,  weak  human  nature  to  re- 
sist you,"  said  Pöllnitz,  stretching  out  his  hand  eagerly 


362  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

for  the  pin ;  "  diamonds  have  a  convincing  eloquence, 
and  I  must  submit;  the  king  has  a  blue  domino  embroid- 
ered with  silver  cord,  a  white  feather  is  fastened  in  his  hat 
with  a  ruby  pin,  and  his  shoe-buckles  are  of  rubies  and 
diamonds." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  the  nun,  handing  the  pin  and  min- 
gling hastily  with  the  crowd. 

While  Pöllnitz  was  fastening  the  pin  in  his  bosom, 
the  king  of  cards  approached,  and  laid  his  hand  on  his 
shoulder. 

"  Well,  baron,  you  see  I  am  punctual ;  answer  the 
questions  of  yesterday,  and  I  will  give  you  all  the  infor- 
mation necessary  to  secure  you  a  rich  and  lovely  wife." 

"  I  accept  the  terms.  You  wish  to  know  what  route 
the  king  will  take  and  the  number  of  his  troops:  this 
paper  contains  the  information  you  desire;  I  obtained  it 
from  a  powerful  friend,  one  of  the  confidential  servants 
of  the  king.  I  had  to  pay  a  thousand  crowns  for  it;  you 
see  I  did  not  forget  you." 

"  Well,  here  is  a  draft  for  four  thousand  crowns,"  said 
Manteuffel ;  "  you  see  I  did  not  forget  your  price." 

"  And  now  for  the  rich  and  lovely  wife." 

"  Listen.  In  Nuremberg  I  am  acquainted  with  a  rich 
family,  who  have  but  one  fair  daughter;  she  will  inherit 
a  million.  The  family  is  not  noble,  but  they  wish  to 
marry  their  daughter  to  a  Prussian  cavalier.  I  have  pro- 
posed you,  and  you  are  accepted;  you  have  only  to  go  to 
Nuremberg  and  deliver  these  letters;  you  will  be  re- 
ceived as  a  son,  and  immediately  after  the  wedding  you 
will  come  into  possession  of  a  million." 

"  A  million  is  not  such  a  large  sum  after  all,"  said 
Pöllnitz.  "  If  I  must  marry  a  citizen  in  order  to  obtain 
a  fortune  I  know  a  girl  here  who  is  young,  lovely,  and 
much  in  love  with  me,  and  I  think,  she  has  not  less  than 
a  million." 

"Well,  take  the  letters;  you  can  consider  the  subject. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  363 

Au  revoir,  my  dear  baron.  Oh,  I  forgot  one  other  small 
stipulation  connected  with  your  marriage  with  the  Nu- 
remberger;  the  family  is  Protestant,  and  will  not  accept 
a  Catholic  for  their  rich  daughter;  so  you  will  have  to 
become  a  Protestant." 

"  Well,  that  is  a  small  affair.  I  was  once  a  Protestant, 
and  I  think  I  was  just  as  good  as  I  am  now." 

Manteuffel  laughed  heartily,  and  withdrew. 

Pöllnitz  looked  thoughtfully  at  the  letters,  and  consid- 
ered the  question  of  the  Nuremberg  bride.  "  I  believe 
Anna  Pricker  has  at  least  a  million,  and  old  Pricker  lies 
very  ill  from  the  shock  of  his  wife's  sudden  death.  If 
our  plan  succeeds,  and  Anna  becomes  a  great  singer,  she 
will  have  powerful  influence  with  the  king,  and  it  will  be 
forgotten  that  she  is  a  tailor's  daughter.  I  believe  I 
would  rather  have  Anna  than  the  ISTuremberger,  but  I 
will  keep  the  latter  in  reserve." 

Pöllnitz  had  reached  this  point  in  his  meditations, 
when  the  gypsy  stood  before  him;  she  greeted  him  with 
roguish  words,  and  he  was  again  the  thoughtless  and 
giddy  cavalier.  Madame  von  Brandt,  however,  had  but 
little  time  for  jesting. 

"  You  promised  to  give  me  information  of  the  letter  I 
lost  at  the  last  court  festival,"  she  said,  anxiously. 

"  Yes,  that  very  important  letter,  ruinously  compro- 
mising two  ladies  and  a  nobleman.  I  suppose  you  would 
obtain  the  letter  at  any  sacrifice  ? " 

"  Yes,  at  any  sacrifice,"  said  Madame  von  Brandt, 
"  You  asked  a  hundred  Louis  d'ors  for  the  letter ;  I  have 
brought  them  with  me;  take  them — now  give  me  the 
letter." 

The  baron  took  the  money  and  put  it  in  his  pocket. 

"Well,  the  letter,  let  me  have  it  quickly,"  said  Ma- 
dame von  Brandt. 

Pöllnitz  hunted  through  his  pockets  anxiously.  "  My 
God !  "  he  cried,  "  this  letter  has  wings.     I  know  I  put  it 


364  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

in  my  pocket,  and  it  has  disappeared;  perhaps  like  your- 
self I  lost  it  in  the  saloon ;  I  must  hasten  to  seek  it."  He 
wished  to  go  immediately,  but  Madame  von  Brandt  held 
him  back, 

"Have  the  goodness  to  give  me  my  money  until  you 
have  found  the  letter,"  she  cried,  trembling  vtdth  rage. 

"  Your  money  ?  "  cried  PöUnitz ;  "  you  gave  me  no 
money.  Why  do  you  keep  me?  allow  me  to  go  and  seek 
this  important  letter."  He  tore  himself  from  her  and 
mingled  with  the  crowd. 

Madame  von  Brandt  looked  after  him  in  speechless 
rage ;  she  leaned  against  the  wall,  to  prevent  herself  from 
falling. 

Pöllnitz  laughed  triumphantly.  "  This  evening  has 
brought  me  a  thousand  crowns,  two  hundred  Louis  d'ors, 
a  splendid  diamond  pin,  and  the  promise  of  a  rich  wife. 
I  think  I  may  be  content.  Through  these  intrigues  I 
have  enough  to  live  on  for  months.  I  stand  now  high 
in  the  king's  favor,  and  who  knows,  perhaps  he  may  now 
give  me  a  house,  not  the  house  in  the  Jäger  Street — that 
is,  alas,  no  longer  vacant.  I  see  the  king — I  must  hasten 
to  him."  Suddenly  he  heard  his  name  called,  and  turning 
he  saw  a  lady  in  a  black  domino,  the  hood  drawn  over  her 
head,  and  her  face  covered  with  an  impenetrable  veil. 

"  Baron  Pöllnitz,  a  word  with  you,  if  you  please,"  and 
slightly  motioning  with  her  hand,  she  passed  before  him. 
Pöllnitz  followed  her,  curious  to  know  his  last  petitioner, 
but  the  dark  domino  covered  her  completely.  They  had 
now  reached  a  quiet  window;  the  lady  turned  and  said: 

"  Baron  Pöllnitz,  you  are  said  to  be  a  noble  and  gallant 
cavalier,  and  I  am  sure  you  will  not  refuse  a  lady  a 
favor." 

"  Command  me,  madame,"  said  Pöllnitz,  with  his  eter- 
nal smile.     "  I  will  do  all  in  my  power." 

"  Make  known  to  me  the  costume  of  the  king." 

The  baron  stepped  back  in  angry  astonishment.    "  So, 


AND  HIS  COURT.  365 

my  beautiful  mask,  you  call  that  a  favor;  I  must  betray 
his  majesty  to  you.  He  has  forbidden  me  positively  to 
make  known  his  costume  to  any  one;  you  cannot  desire 
me  to  be  guilty  of  such  a  crime !  " 

"  I  implore  you  to  tell  me,"  cried  the  mask ;  "  it  is 
not  from  idle  curiosity  that  I  desire  to  know:  I  have  an 
ardent  but  innocent  desire  to  say  a  few  words  to  the  king 
before  he  leaves  for  the  wars,  from  which  he  may  never 
return." 

In  the  excitement  of  deep  feeling,  the  mask  spoke  in 
her  natural  voice,  and  there  were  certain  tones  which 
Pöllnitz  thought  he  recognized;  he  must  be  certain,  how- 
ever, before  speaking;  he  drew  nearer,  and  gazing  pierc- 
ingly at  the  lady,  he  said.  "  You  say,  madame,  that  it  is 
not  in  idle  curiosity  that  you  desire  to  know  the  costume 
of  the  king.  How  do  I  know  that  you  do  not  entertain 
dangerous  designs  ?  how  do  I  know  but  you  are  an  enemy, 
corrupted  by  Austria,  and  wish  to  lead  the  king  to  his 
destruction  ? " 

"  The  only  security  I  can  offer  is  the  word  of  a  noble 
lady  who  never  told  an  untruth.  God  omnipotent,  God 
omnipresent  knows  that  my  heart  beats  with  admiration, 
reverence,  and  love  for  the  king.  I  would  rather  die 
than  bring  him  into  danger." 

"  Will  you  swear  that  ?  " 

"  I  swear !  "  cried  the  lady,  raising  her  arm  solemnly 
toward  heaven. 

Pöllnitz  followed  all  her  movements  watchfully,  and  as 
the  long  sleeve  of  the  domino  fell  back,  he  saw  a  bracelet 
of  emeralds  and  diamonds,  which  he  recognized;  there 
was  but  one  lady  at  the  Prussian  court  who  possessed 
such  a  bracelet,  and  that  was  the  reigning  queen.  Pöllnitz 
was  too  old  a  courtier  to  betray  the  discovery  he  had 
made;  he  bowed  quietly  to  the  lady,  who,  discovering  her 
imprvidence,  lowered  her  arm,  and  drew  her  sleeve  tightly 
over  it. 


366  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Madame,"  said  the  baron,  "  you  have  taken  a  solemn 
oath  and  I  am  satisfied;  I  will  grant  your  request,  but,  as 
I  gave  my  word  of  honor  to  tell  no  one  the  costume  of  his 
majesty,  I  must  show  it  to  you.  I  am  now  going  to 
seek  the  king;  I  shall  speak  with  no  one  but  him;  there- 
fore the  domino  before  whom  I  bow  and  whom  I  address 
will  be  the  king;  follow  me." 

"  I  thank  you,"  said  the  lady,  drawing  her  domino 
closely  over  her ;  "  I  shall  remember  this  hour  gratefully, 
and  if  it  is  ever  in  my  power  to  serve  you,  I  shall  do  so." 

"  This  is  indeed  a  most  fortunate  evening !  I  have 
earned  money  and  diamonds  and  the  favor  of  the  queen, 
who  up  to  this  time  has  looked  upon  me  with  cold  dis- 
like." 

Pöllnitz  approached  the  king  and  bowed  low;  the  lady 
stood  behind,  marking  well  the  costume  of  his  majesty. 

"  I  have  waited  a  long  time  for  Pöllnitz,"  said  the 
king. 

"  Sire,  I  had  to  wait  for  three  masks ;  I  have  seen 
them  all — Madame  von  Morien,  Madame  von  Brandt,  and 
Baron  von  Manteuffel.  The  baron  remains  true  to  his 
character ;  he  is  in  the  costume  of  the  king  of  cards." 

"  And  Madame  von  Morien  ?  "  asked  the  king. 

"  She  is  here  as  a  nun,  and  burns  with  desire  to  speak 
with  your  majesty;  and  if  you  will  step  into  the  dark 
saloon,  I  do  not  doubt  the  repentant  nun  will  quickly  fol- 
low you." 

"  Well,  what  is  the  costume  of  Madame  von  Brandt  ?  " 

"  A  gypsy,  sire ;  a  yellow  skirt,  with  a  red  bodice  em- 
broidered in  gold;  a  little  hat  studded  with  diamonds 
and  a  beauty  spot  on  the  left  temple.  She  wished  me  to 
give  her  the  letter  I  found,  and  I  sold  it  to  her  for  two 
hundred  Louis  d'ors." 

"You  had  not  the  letter,  however,  and  could  not  re- 
ceive the  money  ? " 

"Pardon,  your  majesty,  I  took  the  Louis  d'ors,  and 


AND  HIS  COURT.  367 

then  discovered  that  I  had  lost  the  letter.  I  came  to 
seek  it." 

The  king  laughed  heartily,  and  said :  "  Pöllnitz,  PöU- 
nitz,  it  is  a  blessed  thing  for  the  world  that  you  are  not 
married;  your  boys  would  be  consummate  rascals!  Did 
you  give  Manteuffel  the  plan  of  the  campaign  and  the 
number  of  the  troops  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sire,  I  did ;  and  the  baron  was  so  charmed  that 
he  made  me  a  present  of  four  thousand  crowns !  I  took 
them,  for  appearance'  sake;  your  majesty  must  decide 
what  I  must  do  with  them." 

"  Keep  the  reward  of  your  iniquity,  baron.  You  have 
a  superb  talent  for  thieving,  and  I  would  prefer  you 
should  practise  it  on  the  Austrians  to  practising  it  on  my- 
self. Go  now,  and  see  that  I  find  my  uniform  in  the 
cabinet." 

The  king  mingled  again  with  the  crowd,  and  was  not 
recognized,  but  laughed  and  jested  with  them  merrily  aa 
man  to  man. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

REWARD   AND   PUNISHMENT. 

Suddenly  the  king  ceased  his  cheerful  laughter  and 
merry  jests ;  he  had  for  the  moment  forgotten  that  he  had 
any  thing  to  do  but  amuse  himself ;  he  had  forgotten  that 
he  was  here  to  judge  and  to  punish.  Frederick  was  stand- 
ing by  the  once  dearly  loved  Count  Manteuffel,  and  as  his 
eye  fell  upon  him  he  was  recalled  to  himself. 

"Ah!  I  was  looking  for  you,"  said  the  king,  laying 
his  hand  upon  the  count's  shoulder;  "you  were  missing 
from  my  game,  dear  king  of  cards,  but  now  that  I  have 
you,  I  shall  win." 


368  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

The  count  had  too  good  an  ear  not  to  recognize  the 
king's  voice  in  spite  of  its  disguise;  but  he  was  too  nice 
a  diplomatist  to  betray  his  discovery  by  word  or  look. 

"What  game  do  you  wish  to  play  with  me,  mask?" 
said  he,  following  the  king  into  an  adjoining  and  unoccu- 
pied room. 

"  A  new  game,  the  game  of  war ! "  said  the  king, 
harshly. 

"  The  game  of  war,"  repeated  the  count ;  "  I  have 
never  heard  of  that  game." 

The  king  did  not  answer  at  once;  he  was  walking 
hastily  up  and  down  the  room. 

"  Count,"  said  he,  stopping  before  Manteuffel,  "  I  am 
your  friend.  I  wish  to  give  you  some  good  advice.  Leave 
Berlin  to-night,  and  never  return  to  it !  " 

"  Why  do  you  advise  this  ? "  said  the  count,  coolly. 

"  Because  otherwise  you  are  in  danger  of  being  im- 
prisoned as  a  traitor  and  hung  as  a  spy!  Make  no  an- 
swer; attempt  no  defence.  I  am  your  friend,  but  I  am 
also  the  frigid  of  the  king.  I  would  guard  you  from  a 
punishment,  though  a  just  one;  and  I  would  also  guard 
him  from  embarrassment  and  vexation.  The  king  does 
not  know  that  you  are  an  Austrian  spy,  in  the  pay  of  the 
imperial  court.  May  he  never  know  it!  He  once  loved 
you;  and  his  anger  would  be  terrible  if  informed  of  your 
perfidy.  Yes,  Count  Manteuffel,  this  prince  was  young, 
inexperienced  and  trusting;  he  believed  in  your  love  and 
gave  you  his  heart.  Let  us  spare  his  youth;  let  us  spare 
him  the  humiliation  of  despising  and  punishing  the  man 
he  once  loved.  Oh,  my  God!  it  is  hard  to  trample  a  be- 
ing contemptuously  under  foot  whom  you  once  pressed 
lovingly  to  your  heart.  The  king  is  gentle  and  affection- 
ate: he  is  not  yet  sufficiently  hardened  to  bear  without 
pain  the  blows  inflicted  by  a  faithless  friend.  A  day  may 
come  when  the  work  of  such  friends,  when  your  work, 
may  be  accomplished,  when  King  Frederick  will  wear 


AND  HIS  COURT.  369 

about  his  heart  a  coat-of-mail  woven  of  distrust;  but,  as 
I  said,  that  time  has  not  come.  Do  not  await  it,  count, 
for  then  the  king  would  be  inexorable  toward  you;  he 
would  look  upon  you  only  as  a  spy  and  a  traitor!  Has- 
ten, then,  with  flying  steps  from  Berlin." 

"  But  how,  if  I  remain  and  attempt  to  defend  my- 
self ?  "  said  the  count,  timidly. 

"  Do  not  attempt  it ;  it  would  be  in  vain.  For  in  the 
same  moment  that  you  attempted  to  excuse  yourself, 
the  king  would  hear  of  your  cunning,  your  intrigues, 
your  bribery,  and  your  treachery;  he  would  know  that 
you  corresponded  with  his  cook;  that  Madame  von 
Brandt  kept  a  journal  for  you,  which  you  sent  to  the 
Austrian  court,  and  for  which  you  paid  her  a  settled  sum ; 
he  would  know  that  you  watched  his  every  word  and  step, 
and  sold  your  information  for  Austrian  gold!  No,  no, 
dare  not  approach  the  king.  A  justification  is  impossible. 
Leave  here  to-night,  and  never  dare  to  tread  again  on 
Prussian  soil!  Remember  I  am  your  friend;  as  such  I 
address  you." 

"  You  then  advise  me  to  go  at  once,  without  taking 
leave  of  the  king  ? "  said  the  count,  who  could  not  now 
conceal  his  embarrassment. 

"  I  do !  I  command  you,"  said  the  king ;  "  I  command 
you  to  leave  this  castle  on  the  spot!  silently,  without  a 
word  or  sign,  as  beseems  a  convicted  criminal!  I  com- 
mand you  to  leave  Berlin  to-night.  It  matters  not  to  me 
where  you  go — to  hell,  if  it  suits  your  fancy." 

The  count  obeyed  silently,  without  a  word;  to  the 
king  he  bowed  and  left  the  room. 

The  king  gazed  after  him  till  he  was  lost  in  the  crowd. 
"  And  through  such  men  as  that  we  lose  our  trust  and 
confidence  in  our  race;  such  men  harden  our  hearts," 
said  he  to  himself.  "  Is  that  then  true  which  has  been 
said  by  sages  of  all  times,  that  princes  are  condemned  to 
live  solitary  and  joyless  Kves;  that  they  can  never  possess 


370  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

a  friend  disinterested  and  magnanimous  enough  to  love 
them  for  themselves,  and  not  for  their  power  and  glory? 
If  so,  why  give  our  hearts  to  men?  Let  us  love  and 
cherish  our  dogs,  who  are  true  and  honest,  and  love  their 
masters  whether  they  are  princes  or  beggars.  Ah,  there 
is  Manteuffel's  noble  friend,  that  coquettish  little  gypsy; 
we  will  for  once  change  the  usual  order  of  things :  I  will 
prophesy  to  her,  instead  of  receiving  her  prophecies." 
The  king  approached  and  whispered :  "  Pöllnitz  has 
found  the  precious  letter,  and  is  anxious  to  return  it 
to  you." 

"  Where  is  he  ? "  said  the  gypsy,  joyously. 

"  Follow  me,"  said  Frederick,  leading  her  to  the  same 
room  where  he  had  dismissed  Manteuffel.  "  Here  we  are, 
alone  and  unnoticed,"  said  the  king,  "  and  we  can  gossip 
to  our  heart's  content." 

Madame  von  Brandt  laughed :  "  Two  are  needed  for  a 
gossip,"  said  she ;  "  and  how  do  you  know  that  I  am  in 
the  humor  for  that?  You  led  me  here  by  speaking  of  a 
letter  which  Baron  Pöllnitz  was  to  give  me,  but  I  see 
neither  Pöllnitz  nor  the  letter !  " 

"  Pöllnitz  gave  it  to  me  to  hand  to  you ;  but  before  I 
give  it  up  I  will  see  if  I  have  not  already  learned  some- 
thing of  your  art,  and  if  I  cannot  prophesy  as  well  as 
yourself.     Give  me  your  hand :  I  will  tell  your  fortune." 

Madame  von  Brandt  silently  held  out  her  trembling 
hand;  she  had  recognized  the  voice;  she  knew  it  was  the 
king  who  stood  by  her  side. 

The  king  studied  her  hand  without  touching  it.  "  I 
see  wonderful  things  in  this  small  hand.  In  this  line  it 
is  written  that  you  are  a  dangerous  friend,  a  treacherous 
subject,  and  a  cruel  flirt." 

"  Can  you  believe  this  ? "  said  she,  with  a  forced 
laugh. 

"  I  do  not  only  believe  it,  I  know  it.  It  is  written  in 
bold,  imperishable  characters  upon  your  hand  and  brow. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  371 

Look !  T  see  here,  that  from  a  foreign  land,  for  treacherous 
service,  you  receive  large  sums  of  gold;  here  I  see  splen- 
did diamonds,  and  there  I  read  that  twenty  thousand 
crowns  are  promised  you  if  you  prevent  a  certain  divorce. 
You  tremble,  and  your  hand  shakes  so  I  can  scarcely  read. 
Keep  your  hand  steady,  madame ;  I  wish  to  read  not  only 
your  past  but  your  future  life." 

"  I  shall  obey,"  whispered  Madame  von  Brandt. 

"  Here  I  read  of  a  dangerous  letter,  which  fell,  through 
your  own  carelessness,  into  the  wrong  hands.  If  the  king 
should  read  that  letter,  your  ruin  would  be  unavoidable; 
he  would  punish  you  as  a  traitor;  you  would  not  only  be 
banished  from  court,  but  confined  in  some  strong  fortress. 
When  a  subject  conspires  with  the  enemy  during  time  of 
war,  this  is  the  universal  punishment.  Be  cautious,  be 
prudent,  and  the  king  will  learn  nothing  of  this,  and  you 
may  be  saved." 

"  What  must  I  do  to  avert  my  ruin  ? "  she  said,  breath- 
lessly. 

"  Banish  yourself,  madame ;  make  some  excuse  to 
withdraw  immediately  from  Berlin;  retire  to  your  hus- 
band's estate,  and  there,  in  quiet  and  solitude,  think  over 
and  repent  your  crimes.  When  like  Mary  Magdalene 
you  have  loved,  and  deceived,  and  betrayed,  like  her  you 
must  repent,  and  see  if  God  is  as  trusting  as  man ;  if  you 
can  deceive  Him  with  your  tears  as  you  once  deceived  us 
with  your  well-acted  friendship.  Go  try  repentance  with 
God;  here  it  is  of  no  avail.  This  reformation,  madame, 
must  commence  at  once.  You  will  leave  Berlin  to-mor- 
row, and  will  not  return  till  the  king  himself  sends  for 
you." 

"I  go !  "  said  Madame  von  Brandt,  weeping  bitterly ; 
"I  go !  but  I  carry  death  in  my  heart,  not  because  I  am 
banished,  but  because  I  deserve  my  punishment;  because 
I  have  wounded  the  heart  of  my  king,  and  my  soul 
withers  under  his  contempt." 


372  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Mary  Magdalene,"  said  Frederick,  "  truly  you  have 
a  wondrous  talent  for  acting;  a  hint  is  enough  for  you, 
and  you  master  your  part  at  once.  But,  madame,  it 
is  useless  to  act  before  the  king;  he  will  neither  credit 
your  tears  nor  your  repentance;  he  would  remember 
your  crimes  and  pronounce  your  sentence.  Hasten,  then, 
to  your  place  of  atonement.  There  you  may  turn  saint, 
and  curse  the  vain  and  giddj^  world.  Here  is  your  letter 
— farewell !  " 

The  king  hastened  away,  and  Madame  von  Brandt, 
weeping  from  shame  and  humiliation,  remained  alone. 
The  king  passed  rapidly  through  the  crowded  saloon  and 
stepped  on  the  balcony;  he  had  seen  the  nun  following 
him,  and  she  came  upon  the  balcony ;  he  tore  off  his  mask, 
and  confronting  the  trembling  woman,  he  said,  in  a  harsh 
voice. 

"  What  do  you  want  with  me  ?  " 

"  Your  love,"  cried  the  nun,  sinking  upon  her  knees 
and  raising  her  hands  imploringly  to  the  king ;  "  I  want 
the  love  you  once  promised  me — the  love  which  is  my 
earthly  happiness  and  my  salvation — your  love,  without 
which  I  must  die;  wanting  which,  I  suffer  the  tortures  of 
purgatory !  " 

"  Then  suffer,"  said  the  king,  harshly ;  retreating  a 
few  steps — "  go  and  suffer ;  endure  the  torments  of  purga- 
tory, you  deserve  them;  God  will  not  deliver  you,  nor 
will  I." 

"  Alas !  alas !  I  hear  this,  and  I  live,"  cried  Madame 
von  Morien,  despairingly.  "  Oh,  my  king,  take  pity  on 
me ;  think  of  the  heavenly  past ;  think  of  the  intoxicating 
poison  your  words  and  looks  poured  into  my  veins,  and  do 
not  scorn  and  punish  me  because  I  am  brought  almost  to 
madness  and  death  by  your  neglect.  See  what  you  have 
made  of  me !  see  how  poor  Leontine  has  changed !  "  She 
threw  back  her  veil,  and  showed  her  pale  and  sorrowful 
countenance  to  the  king. 


AND  HIS  COUET.  373 

He  gazed  at  her  sternly :  "  You  have  become  old, 
madame,"  he  said,  coldly — "  old  enough  to  tread  in  the 
new  path  you  have  so  wisely  prepared  for  yourself.  You 
who  have  so  long  been  the  votary  of  love,  are  now  old 
enough  and  plain  enough  to  become  a  model  of  virtue. 
Accept  this  order  of  virtue  and  modesty,  promised  you 
by  the  Empress  of  Austria.  The  king  will  not  divorce 
his  wife,  and  as  this  is  supposed  to  be  solely  your  work, 
the  empress  will  not  withhold  the  promised  order." 

"  My  God !  he  knows  all,  and  he  despises  me ! "  cried 
Madame  von  Morien,  passionately. 

"  Yes,  he  despises  you,"  repeated  the  king ;  "  he  de- 
spises and  he  has  no  pity  on  you !     Farewell !  " 

Without  again  looking  toward  the  broken-hearted 
woman,  he  turned  toward  the  dancing-saloon.  Suddenly 
he  felt  a  hand  laid  softly  upon  his  shoulder;  he  turned 
and  saw  at  his  side  a  woman  in  black,  and  thickly  veiled. 

"  One  word.  King  Frederick,"  whispered  the  lady. 

"  Speak,  what  do  you  wish  ? "  said  the  king,  kindly. 

"  What  do  I  wish  ?  "  said  she,  with  a  trembling  voice ; 
"  I  wish  to  see  you ;  to  hear  your  voice  once  more  before 
you  go  to  the  battle-field,  to  danger,  perhaps  to  death. 
I  come  to  entreat  you  to  be  careful  of  your  life!  remem- 
ber it  is  a  precious  jewel,  for  which  you  are  not  only  an- 
swerable to  God,  but  to  millions  of  your  subjects.  Oh, 
my  king,  do  not  plunge  wantonly  into  danger;  preserve 
yourself  for  your  country,  your  people,  and  your  family; 
to  all  of  whom  you  are  indispensable." 

The  king  shook  his  head,  smilingly.  "  No  one  is  in- 
dispensable. A  man  lost  is  like  a  stone  thrown  into  the 
water;  for  a  moment  there  is  a  slight  eddy,  the  waters 
whirl,  then  all  trace  disappears,  and  the  stream  flows 
quietly  and  smoothly  on.  But  not  thus  will  I  disappear. 
If  I  am  destined  to  fall  in  this  combat  to  which  I  am  now 
hastening,  my  death  shall  be  glorious,  and  my  grave  shall 
be  known;  it  must,  at  least,  be  crowned  with  laurels,  as 


374  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

no  one  will  consecrate  it  with  the  tribute  of  love  and 
tears.  A  king,  you  know,  is  never  loved,  and  no  one 
weeps  for  his  death;  the  whole  world  is  too  busily  en- 
gaged in  welcoming  his  successor." 

"  Not  so ;  not  so  with  you,  my  king !  you  are  deeply, 
fondly  loved.  I  know  a  woman  who  lives  but  in  your 
presence — a  woman  who  would  die  of  joy  if  she  were 
loved  by  you;  she  would  die  of  despair  if  death  should 
claim  you;  you,  her  youthful  hero,  her  ideal,  her  god! 
For  this  woman's  sake  who  worships  you;  whose  only  joy 
you  are;  who  humbly  lays  her  love  at  your  feet,  and  only 
asks  to  die  there ;  for  her  sake  I  implore  you  to  be  careful 
of  yourself;  do  not  plunge  wantonly  into  danger,  and 
thus  rob  Prussia  of  her  king;  your  queen  of  the  husband 
whom  she  adores,  and  for  whom  she  is  ready  at  any  hour 
to  give  her  heart's  blood." 

The  king  clasped  gently  the  folded  hands  of  the 
veiled  lady  within  his  own ;  he  knew  her  but  too  well. 

"  Are  you  so  well  acquainted  with  the  queen  that  you 
know  all  the  secrets  of  her  heart  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  know  the  queen,"  whispered  she ;  "  I  am  the 
only  confidant  of  her  sorrows.  I  only  know  how  much 
she  loves,  how  much  she  suffers." 

"  I  pray  you,  then,  go  to  the  queen  and  bid  her  fare- 
well for  me.  Tell  her  that  the  king  honors  no  other  wom- 
an as  he  honors  her;  that  he  thinks  she  is  exalted  enough 
to  be  placed  among  the  noble  women  of  the  olden  times. 
He  is  convinced  she  would  say  to  her  warrior  hus- 
band, as  the  Roman  wives  said  to  their  fathers,  husbands, 
and  sons,  when  handing  their  shields,  '  Return  with  them 
or  upon  them ! '  Tell  Elizabeth  Christine  that  the  King 
of  Prussia  will  return  from  this  combat  with  his  heredi- 
tary foe  as  a  conqueror,  or  as  a  corpse.  He  cares  little 
for  life,  but  much  for  honor;  he  must  make  his  name 
glorious,  perchance  by  the'  shedding  of  his  blood.  Tell 
Elizabeth  Christine  this,  and  tell  her  also  that  on  the  day 


AND  HIS  COURT.  375 

of  battle  her  friend  and  brother  will  think  of  her;  not  to 
spare  himself,  but  to  remember  gratefully  that,  in  that 
hour,  a  noble  and  pure  woman  is  praying  to  God  for  him. 
And  now  adieu :  I  go  to  my  soldiers — you  to  the  queen." 

He  bowed  respectfully,  and  hurried  to  the  music-room. 
The  queen  followed  him  with  tearful  eyes,  and  then  draw- 
ing her  hood  tightly  over  her  face,  she  hurried  through  a 
secret  door  into  her  apartments.  While  the  queen  was 
weeping  and  praying  in  her  room,  the  king  was  putting 
on  his  uniform,  and  commanding  the  officers  to  assemble 
in  the  court-yard. 

Prince  Augustus  William  was  still  tarrying  in  the 
dancing-saloon:  he  did  not  dance;  no  one  knew  he  was 
there.  He  had  shown  himself  for  a  few  hours  in  a  mag- 
nificent fancy  suit,  but  unmasked;  he  then  left  the  ball- 
room, saying  he  still  had  some  few  preparations  to  make 
for  his  journey.  Soon,  however,  he  returned  in  a  common 
domino  and  closely  masked ;  no  one  but  Laura  von  Panne- 
witz  was  aware  of  his  presence;  they  were  now  standing 
together  in  a  window,  whose  heavy  curtains  hid  them 
from  view.  It  was  a  sad  pleasure  to  look  once  more  into 
each  other's  eyes,  to  feel  the  warm  pressure  of  loving 
hands,  to  repeat  those  pure  and  holy  vows  which  their 
trembling  lips  had  so  often  spoken;  every  fond  word  fell 
like  glorious  music  upon  their  young  hearts.  The  mo- 
ment of  separation  had  come;  the  officers  were  assembled, 
and  the  solemn  beating  of  drums  was  heard. 

"  I  must  leave  you,  my  beloved,  my  darling,"  whis- 
pered the  prince,  pressing  the  weeping  girl  to  his  heart. 
Laura  sobbed  convulsively. 

"  Leave  me,  alas,  perhaps  never  to  return ! " 

"  I  shall  return,  my  Laura,"  said  he,  with  a  forced 
smile.  "  I  am  no  hero ;  I  shall  not  fall  upon  the  battle- 
field. I  know  this;  I  feel  it.  I  feel  also  that  if  this  was 
to  be  my  fate,  I  should  be  spared  many  sorrowful  and 
agonizing   hours;    how   much   better    a    quick,   glorious 


376  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

death,  than  this  slow  torture,  this  daily  death  of  wretched- 
ness! Oh,  Laura,  I  have  presentiments,  in  which  my 
whole  future  is  covered  with  clouds  and  thick  darkness, 
through  which  even  your  lovely  form  is  not  to  be  seen ;  I 
am  alone,  all  alone !  " 

"  You  picture  my  own  sufferings,  my  own  fears,"  whis- 
pered Laura.  "  Alas !  I  forget  the  rapture  of  the  pres- 
ent in  the  dim  and  gloomy  future.  Oh,  my  beloved,  my 
heart  does  not  beat  with  joy  when  I  look  at  you;  it  over- 
flows with  despair.  I  am  never  to  see  you  again,  my 
prince;  our  fond  farewell  is  to  be  our  last!  Oh,  believe 
me,  this  sad  presentiment  is  the  voice  of  Fate,  warning  us 
to  escape  from  this  enchanting  vision,  with  which  we  have 
lulled  our  souls  to  sleep.  We  have  forgotten  our  duty, 
and  we  are  warned  that  a  cruel  necessity  will  one  day 
separate  us !  " 

"  Nothing  shall  separate  us !  "  said  the  prince ;  "  no 
earthly  power  shall  come  between  us.  The  separation  of 
to-day,  which  honor  demands  of  me,  shall  be  the  last. 
When  I  return,  I  will  remind  you  of  your  oath;  I  will 
claim  your  promise,  which  God  heard  and  accepted.  Our 
love  is  from  God,  and  no  stain  rests  upon  it;  God,  there- 
fore, will  watch  over  it,  and  will  not  withhold  His  bless- 
ing; with  His  help,  we  will  conquer  all  difficulties,  and 
we  can  dispense  with  the  approbation  of  the  world." 

Laura  shook  her  head  sadly :  "  I  have  not  this  happy 
confidence;  and  I  have  not  the  strength  to  bear  this  pain- 
ful separation.  At  times  when  I  have  been  praying  fer- 
vently for  help,  it  seems  to  me  that  God  is  standing  by  and 
strengthening  me  to  obey  the  command  of  the  dowager- 
queen  and  give  my  hand  to  Count  Voss.  But  when  I 
wish  to  speak  the  decisive  word  my  lips  are  closed  as  with 
a  band  of  iron;  it  seems  to  me  that,  could  I  open  them, 
the  only  sound  I  should  utter  would  be  a  cry  so  despairing 
as  to  drive  me  to  madness." 

The  prince  pressed  her  fondly  to  his  heart :  "  Swear 


AND  HIS  COURT.  3Y7 

to  me,  Laura,  that  you  will  never  be  so  faithless,  so  cow- 
ardly, as  to  yield  to  the  threats  of  my  mother,"  said  he, 
passionately ;  "  swear  that  you  will  be  true  to  your  oath ; 
that  oath  by  which  you  are  mine — mine  to  all  eternity; 
my  wedded  wife !  " 

"  I  swear  it,"  said  she,  solemnly,  fixing  her  eyes  stead- 
ily upon  his  agitated  countenance. 

"  They  will  take  advantage  of  my  absence  to  torture 
you.  My  mother  will  overwhelm  you  with  reproaches, 
threats,  and  entreaties;  but,  if  you  love  me,  Laura,  you 
will  find  strength  to  resist  all  this.  As  yet  my  mother 
does  not  know  that  it  is  I  whom  you  love;  I  who  worship 
you ;  she  suspects  that  the  king  or  the  young  Prince  of 
Brunswick  possesses  your  heart.  But  chance  may  betray 
our  love,  and  then  her  anger  would  be  terrible.  She 
would  lose  no  time  in  separating  us;  would  stop  at  noth- 
ing. Then,  Laura,  be  firm  and  faithful;  believe  no  re- 
ports, no  message,  no  letter;  trust  only  in  me  and  in  my 
word.  I  will  not  write  to  you,  for  my  letters  might  be  in- 
tercepted. I  will  send  no  messenger  to  you;  he  might 
be  bribed.  If  I  fall  in  battle,  and  God  grants  me  strength 
in  dying,  I  will  send  you  a  last  embrace  and  a  last  loving 
word,  by  some  pitying  friend.  In  that  last  hour  our  love 
will  have  nothing  to  fear  from  the  world,  the  king,  or  my 
mother.  You  will  always  be  in  my  thoughts,  darling,  and 
my  spirit  will  be  with  you." 

"  And  if  you  fall,  God  will  have  mercy  on  me  and 
take  me  from  this  cruel  world;  it  will  be  but  a  grave  for 
me  when  no  longer  gladdened  by  your  presence." 

The  prince  kissed  her  fondly,  and  slipped  a  ring  on 
her  finger.  "  That  is  our  engagement  ring,"  said  he. 
"  Now  you  are  mine ;  you  wear  my  ring ;  this  is  the  first 
link  of  that  chain  with  which  I  will  bind  your  whole  life 
to  mine !  You  are  my  prisoner ;  nothing  can  release  you. 
But  listen !  what  is  that  noise  ?  The  king  has  descended 
to   the   court;    he   will   be   looking   for   me.     Farewell, 


378  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

my  precious  one;  God  and  His  holy  angela  guard 
you!" 

He  stepped  slowly  from  behind  the  curtains  and  closed 
them  carefully  after  him,  so  as  to  conceal  Laura;  he 
passed  hastily  through  the  rooms  to  his  apartment,  threw 
off  the  domino  which  concealed  his  uniform,  and  seizing 
his  sword  he  hastened  to  the  court.  The  king  was  sur- 
rounded by  his  generals  and  officers;  all  eyes  were  fixed 
upon  him;  he  had  silenced  every  objection.  There  was 
amongst  them  but  one  opinion  and  one  will,  the  will 
and  opinion  of  the  king,  whom  all  felt  to  be  their  master, 
not  only  by  divine  right,  but  by  his  mighty  intellect  and 
great  soul.  Frederick  stood  amongst  them,  his  counte- 
nance beaming  with  inspiration,  his  eagle  eye  sparkling 
and  glowing  with  the  fire  of  thought,  and  a  smile  was  on 
his  lips  which  won  all  hearts.  Behind  him  stood  the 
Prince  of  Anhault  Dessau,  old  Zeithen,  General  Vinter- 
feldt,  and  the  adjutant-generals.  Above  them  floated  a 
magnificent  banner,  whose  motto,  "  Pro  gloria  et  patria," 
was  woven  in  gold.  Frederick  raised  his  naked  sword 
and  greeted  the  waving  colors;  he  spoke,  and  his  full, 
rich  voice  filled  the  immense  square : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  undertake  this  war  with  no  other  ally 
than  your  stout  hearts;  my  cause  is  just;  I  dare  ask 
God's  help!  Remember  the  renown  our  great  ancestors 
gained  on  the  battle-field  of  Ferbellin!  Your  future  is 
in  your  own  hands;  distinction  must  be  won  by  gallant 
and  daring  deeds.  We  are  to  attack  soldiers  who  gained 
imperishable  names  under  Prince  Eugene.  How  great 
will  be  our  glory  if  we  vanquish  such  warriors!  Fare 
well !     Go !     I  follow  without  delay  I  " 


AND  HIS  COURT.  379 

CHAPTER   XII. 

THE   RETURN. 

The  first  campaign  of  the  young  King  of  Prussia  had 
been  a  bloodless  one.  Not  one  drop  of  blood  had  been 
shed.  A  sentinel  at  the  gate  of  Breslau  had  refused  to 
allow  the  Prussian  general  to  enter,  and  received  for  his 
daring  a  sounding  box  on  the  ear,  which  sent  him  reeling 
backward.  The  general  with  his  staff  entered  the  con- 
quered capital  of  Silesia,  without  further  opposition. 
Breslau  was  the  capital  of  a  province  which  for  more 
than  a  hundred  years  had  not  been  visited  by  any  member 
of  the  royal  house  of  Austria.  The  heavy  taxes  imposed 
upon  her  were  the  only  evidence  that  she  belonged  to  the 
Austrian  dominions.  Breslau  did  not  hesitate  to  receive 
this  young  and  handsome  king,  who  as  he  marched  into 
the  city  gave  a  kindly,  gracious  greeting  to  all;  who  had 
a  winning  smile  for  all  those  richly-dressed  ladies  at  the 
windows;  who  had  written  with  his  own  hand  a  procla- 
mation in  which  he  assured  the  Silesians  that  he  came 
not  as  an  enemy,  and  that  every  inhabitant  would  be 
secured  in  their  rights,  privileges,  and  freedom  in  their 
religion,  worth,  and  service.  The  ties  which  bound  the 
beautiful  province  of  Silesia  to  Austria  had  long  ago 
been  shattered,  and  the  prophecy  of  the  king  had  already 
been  fulfilled — that  prophecy  made  in  Krossen.  As  the 
king  entered  Krossen  with  his  army,  the  clock  of  the 
great  church  tower  fell  with  a  thundering  noise,  and  car- 
ried with  it  a  portion  of  the  old  church.  A  superstitious 
fear  fell  upon  the  whole  Prussian  army;  even  the  old 
battle-stained  warriors  looked  grim  and  thoughtful.  The 
king  alone  smiled,  and  said : 

"  The  fall  of  this  clock  signifies  that  the  pride  of  the 


380  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

house  of  Austria  will  be  humbled.  Caesar  fell  when  land- 
ing in  Africa,  and  exclaimed :  '  I  hold  thee,  Africa ! '  " 

Those  great  men  would  not  allow  themselves  to  be  in- 
fluenced by  evil  omens.  Quickly,  indeed,  was  Frederick's 
prophecy  fulfilled.  The  house  of  Austria  was  suddenly 
humbled,  and  the  Prussian  army  was  quietly  in  possession 
of  one  of  her  capitals.  Frederick  had  been  joyfully  re- 
ceived, not  only  by  the  Protestants,  who  had  so  long  suf- 
fered from  the  bitterest  religious  persecution,  and  to 
whom  the  king  now  promised  absolute  freedom  of  con- 
science and  unconditional  exercise  of  their  religious  wor- 
ship, but  by  the  Catholics,  even  the  priests  and  Jesuits, 
who  were  completely  fascinated  by  the  intellect  and  amia- 
bility of  Frederick.  Xo  man  mourned  for  the  Austrian 
yoke,  and  the  Prussians  became  great  favorites  with  the 
Silesians,  particularly  with  the  women,  who,  heart  in 
hand,  advanced  to  meet  them ;  received  the  handsome  and 
well-made  soldiers  as  lovers,  and  hastened  to  have  these 
tender  ties  made  irrevocable  by  the  blessing  of  the  priest. 
Hundreds  of  marriages  between  the  Prussians  and  the 
maidens  of  the  land  were  solemnized  during  the  six  weeks 
Frederick  remained  in  Silesia.  These  men,  who,  but  a 
few  weeks  before,  came  as  enemies  and  conquerors,  were 
now  adopted  citizens,  thus  giving  their  king  a  double 
right  to  the  possession  of  these  provinces. 

It  soon  became  the  mode  for  the  Silesian  girl  to  claim 
a  Prussian  lover,  and  the  taller  and  larger  the  lover,  the 
prouder  and  more  happy  was  the  lucky  possessor.  Baron 
Bielfeld,  who  accompanied  the  king  to  Breslau,  met  in 
the  street  one  day  a  beautiful  tourgeoise,  who  was  weej)- 
ing  bitterly  and  wringing  her  hands;  Bielfeld  inquired 
the  cause  of  her  tears,  and  she  replied  naively : 

"Alas!  I  am  indeed  an  object  of  pity;  eight  days  ago 
I  was  betrothed  to  a  Prussian  grenadier,  who  measured 
five  feet  and  nine  inches;  I  was  very  happy  and  very 
proud  of  him.     To-day  one  of  the  guard,  who  measured 


AND  HIS  COURT.  381 

six  feet  and  two  inches,  proposed  to  me;  and  I  weep  now 
because  so  majestic  and  handsome  a  giant  is  offered  me, 
and  I  cannot  accept  him." 

The  king  won  the  women  through  his  gallant  soldiers; 
the  ladies  of  the  aristocracy,  through  his  own  beauty, 
grace,  and  eminent  intellect.  Frederick  gave  a  ball  to 
the  aristocracy  of  Breslau,  and  all  the  most  distinguished 
and  noble  families,  who  had  been  before  closely  bound  to 
the  house  of  Austria,  eagerly  accepted  the  invitation; 
they  wished  to  behold  the  man  who  was  a  hero  and  a 
poet,  a  cavalier  and  a  warrior,  a  youth  and  a  philosopher; 
who  was  young  and  handsome,  and  full  of  life;  who  did 
not  wrap  himself  in  stiff,  ceremonious  forms,  and  ap- 
peared in  the  presence  of  ladies  to  forget  that  he  was  a 
king.  He  worshipped  the  ladies  as  a  cavalier,  and  when 
they  accepted  the  invitation  to  dance,  considered  it  a 
flattering  favor.  While  winning  the  hearts  of  the  women 
through  his  gallantry  and  beauty,  he  gained  the  voices 
of  men  by  the  orders  and  titles  which  he  scattered  broad- 
cast through  the  province. 

"  I  dreamed  last  night,"  said  he  to  Pollnitz,  laughing, 
"  that  I  created  princes,  dukes,  and  barons  in  Breslau ; 
help  me  to  make  my  dream  a  reality  by  naming  to  me 
some  of  the  most  prominent  families." 

Pollnitz  selected  the  names,  and  Prince  von  Pless, 
Duke  Hockburg,  and  many  others  rose  up  proudly  from 
this  creative  process  of  the  king. 

Silesia  belonged,  at  this  moment,  unconditionally  to 
Prussia.  The  king  could  now  return  to  Berlin  and  de- 
vote himself  to  study,  to  friendship,  and  his  family.  The 
first  act  of  that  great  drama  called  the  Seven  Years'  War 
was  now  finished.  The  king  should  now,  between  the 
acts,  give  himself  up  to  the  arts  and  sciences,  and 
strengthen  himself  for  that  deep  tragedy  of  which  he 
was  resolved  to  be  the  hero.  Berlin  received  her  king 
with  shouts  of  joy,  and  greeted  him  as  a  demigod.    He 

MUHLBACH    17  7oL.    1 


382  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

was  no  longer,  in  the  eyes  of  the  imperious  Austrians,  the 
little  Margrave  of  Brandenburg,  who  must  hold  the  wash- 
basin for  the  emperor;  he  was  a  proud,  self-sustaining 
king,  no  longer  receiving  commands  from  Austria,  but 
giving  laws  to  the  proud  daughter  of  the  Caesars. 

The  queen-mother  and  the  young  princesses  met  the 
king  at  the  outer  gates.  The  queen  Elizabeth  Christine, 
her  eyes  veiled  with  rapturous  tears,  received  her  husband 
tremblingly.  Alas !  he  had  for  her  only  a  silent  greeting, 
a  cold,  ceremonious  bow.  But  she  saw  him  once  more; 
she  could  lose  her  whole  soul  in  those  melting  eyes,  in 
which  she  was  ever  reading  the  most  enchanting  magical 
fairy  tales.  In  these  days  of  ceremony  he  could  not  re- 
fuse her  a  place  by  his  side;  to  sit  near  him  at  table,  and 
at  the  concerts  with  which  the  royal  chapel  and  the  newly- 
arrived  Italian  singers  would  celebrate  the  return  of  the 
king.  Graun  had  composed  a  piece  of  music  in  honor 
of  this  occasion,  and  not  only  the  Italian  singer,  Laura 
Farinelli,  but  a  scholar  of  Graun  and  Quantz,  a  German 
singer,  Anna  Prickerin,  would  then  be  heard  for  the  first 
time.  This  would  be  for  Anna  an  eventful  and  decisive 
day;  she  stood  on  the  brink  of  a  new  existence — an  exist- 
ence made  glorious  by  renown,  honor,  and  distinction. 

It  was  nothing  to  her  that  her  father  lay  agonizing 
upon  his  death-bed;  it  was  nothing  to  her  that  her 
brother  William  had  left  his  home  three  days  before,  and 
no  one  knew  what  had  become  of  him.  She  asked  no 
questions  about  father  or  brother;  she  sorrowed  not  for 
the  mother  lately  dead  and  buried.  She  had  but  one 
thought,  one  desire,  one  aim — to  be  a  celebrated  singer, 
to  obtain  the  hand  of  a  man  whom  she  neither  loved  nor 
esteemed,  but  who  was  a  baron  and  an  influential  lord  of 
the  court.  The  object  of  Anna's  life  was  to  become  the 
wife  of  the  baron,  not  for  love.  She  wished  to  hide  her 
ignoble  birth  under  the  glitter  of  his  proud  name;  it  was 
better  to  be  the  wife  of  a  poor  baron  than  the  daughter  of 


AND  HIS  COURT.  38? 

a  tailor,  even  though  he  should  be  the  court  tailor,  and  a 
millionnaire. 

The  king  had  been  in  Berlin  but  two  days,  and  PöU- 
nitz  had  already  made  a  visit  to  his  beautiful  Anna. 
Never  had  he  been  so  demonstrative  and  so  tender;  never 
before  had  he  been  seriously  occupied  with  the  thought 
of  making  her  his  wife;  never  had  he  looked  upon  it  as 
possible.  The  example  of  Count  Rhedem  gave  him 
courage;  what  the  king  had  granted  to  the  daughter  of 
the  merchant,  he  could  not  refuse  to  the  daughter  of  the 
court  tailor,  more  particularly  when  the  latter,  by  her 
own  gifts  and  talents,  had  opened  the  doors  of  the  palace 
for  herself;  when  by  the  power  of  her  siren  voice  she 
had  made  the  barriers  tremble  and  fall  which  separated 
the  tailor's  daughter  from  the  court  circle.  If  the  lovely 
Anna  became  a  celebrated  singer,  if  she  succeeded  in 
winning  the  applause  of  the  king,  she  would  be  ennobled; 
and  no  one  could  reproach  the  baron  for  making  the 
beautiful  prima  donna  his  wife.  If,  therefore,  she 
pleased  the  king,  Pollnitz  was  resolved  to  confess  himself 
her  knight,  and  to  marry  her  as  soon  as  possible — yes,  as 
soon  as  possible,  for  his  creditors  followed  him,  persecuted 
him  at  every  step,  even  threatened  him  with  judgment  and 
a  prison.  Pollnitz  reminded  the  king  that  he  had  prom- 
ised, after  his  return  from  Silesia,  to  assist  him.  Fred- 
erick replied  that  he  had  not  yet  seen  a  battle-field,  and 
was  at  the  beginning  and  not  the  end  of  a  war,  for  which 
he  would  require  more  gold  than  his  treasuries  contained; 
"  wait  patiently,  also,"  he  said,  "  for  the  promised  day,  for 
only  then  can  I  fulfil  my  promise."  It  was,  therefore,  a 
necessity  -with  Pollnitz  to  find  some  way  of  escape  from 
this  terrible  labyrinth;  and  with  an  anxiously-beating 
heart  he  stood  on  the  evening  of  the  concert  behind  the 
king's  chair,  to  watch  every  movement  and  every  word, 
and  above  all  to  notice  the  effect  produced  by  the  voice  of 
his  Anna. 


384  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

The  king  was  uncommonly  gay  and  gracious;  these 
two  days  in  his  beloved  Berlin,  after  weeks  of  fatigue 
and  weariness  in  Silesia,  had  filled  his  heart  with  glad- 
ness. He  had  given  almost  a  lover's  greeting  to  his  books 
and  his  flute,  and  his  library  seemed  to  him  a  sanctified 
home;  with  joy  he  exchanged  his  sword  for  a  pen,  and 
instead  of  drawing  plans  of  battle,  he  wrote  verses  or 
witty  letters  to  Voltaire,  whom  he  still  honored,  and  in  a 
certain  sense  admired,  althought  the  six  days  which  Vol- 
taire had  spent  in  Rheinsberg,  just  before  the  Silesian 
campaign,  had  somewhat  diminished  his  admiration  for 
the  French  author.  After  Frederick's  first  meeting  with 
Voltaire  at  the  castle  of  Moyland,  he  said  of  him,  "He 
is  as  eloquent  as  Cicero,  as  charming  as  Plinius,  and  as 
wise  as  Agrippa;  he  combines  in  himself  all  the  virtues 
and  all  the  talents  of  the  three  greatest  men  of  the  an- 
cients." He  now  called  the  author  of  the  "  Henriade " 
a  fool;  it  excited  and  troubled  his  spirit  to  see  that  this 
great  author  was  mean  and  contemptible  in  character, 
cold  and  cunning  in  heart.  He  had  loved  Voltaire  as  a 
friend,  and  now  he  confessed  with  pain  that  Voltaire's 
friendship  was  a  possession  which  must  be  cemented  with 
gold,  if  you  did  not  wish  to  lose  it.  The  king  who,  a  few 
months  before,  had  compared  him  to  Cicero,  Plinius,  and 
Agrippa,  now  said  to  Jordan,  "  The  miser,  Voltaire,  has 
still  an  unsatisfied  longing  for  gold,  and  asks  still 
thirteen  hundred  dollars!  Every  one  of  the  six  days 
which  he  spent  with  me  cost  me  five  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars !  I  call  that  paying  dear  for  a  fool !  Never  before 
was  a  court  fool  so  generously  rewarded." 

To-day  Frederick  was  expecting  a  new  enjoyment; 
to-day,  for  the  first  time,  he  was  to  hear  the  new  Italian 
singer.  This  court  concert  promised  him,  therefore,  a 
special  enjoyment,  and  he  awaited  it  with  youthful  im- 
patience. 

At  last  Graun  gave  the  signal  for  the  introduction; 


AND  HIS  COURT.  385 

Frederick  had  no  ear  for  this  simple,  beautiful,  and 
touching  music;  and  the  masterly  solo  of  Quantz  upon 
the  flute  drew  from  him  a  single  bravo;  he  thought  only 
of  the  singers,  and  at  last  the  chorus  began. 

The  heart  of  Pöllnitz  beat  loud  and  quick  as  he 
glanced  at  Anna,  who  stood  proud  and  grave,  in  costly 
French  toilet,  far  removed  from  the  Farinelli.  Anna 
examined  the  court  circles  quietly,  and  looked  as  unem- 
barrassed as  if  she  had  been  long  accustomed  to  such 
society. 

The  chorus  was  at  an  end,  and  Laura  Farinelli  had  the 
first  aria  to  sing.  Anna  Prickerin  could  have  murdered 
her  for  this.  The  Italian,  in  the  full  consciousness  of  her 
power,  returned  Anna's  scorn  with  a  half-mocking,  half- 
contemptuous  smile;  she  then  fixed  her  great,  piercing 
eyes  upon  the  music,  and  began  to  sing. 

Anna  could  have  cried  aloud  in  her  rage,  for  she  saw 
that  the  king  was  well  pleased;  he  nodded  his  head,  and 
a  gay  smile  overspread  his  features;  she  saw  that  the 
whole  court  circle  made  up  enchanted  faces  immediately, 
and  that  even  Pöllnitz  assumed  an  entirely  happy  and  en- 
thusiastic mien.  The  Farinelli  saw  all  this,  and  the 
royal  applause  stimulated  her;  her  full,  glorious  voice 
■  floated  and  warbled  in  the  artistic  "  Fioritures "  and 
"Eoulades,"  then  dreamed  itself  away  in  soft,  melodious 
tones;  again  it  rose  into  the  loftiest  regions  of  sound, 
and  was  again  almost  lost  in  the  simple,  touching  melo- 
dies of  love. 

"  Delicious !  superb ! "  said  the  king,  aloud,  as  Fari- 
nelli concluded. 

"  Exalted !  godlike !  "  cried  Pöllnitz ;  and  now,  as  the 
royal  sign  had  been  given,  the  whole  court  dared  to  follow 
the  example,  and  to  utter  light  and  repressed  murmurs 
of  wonder  and  applause. 

Anna  felt  that  she  turned  pale;  her  feet  trembled; 
she  could  have  murdered  the  Italian  with  her  own  hands  I 


386  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

this  proud  Farinelli,  who  at  this  moment  looked  toward 
her  with  a  questioning  and  derisive  glance;  and  her  eyes 
seemed  to  say,  "  Will  you  yet  dare  to  sing  ?  " 

But  Anna  had  the  proud  courage  to  dare.  She  said 
to  herself,  "  I  shall  triumph  over  her ;  her  voice  is  as  thin 
as  a  thread,  and  as  sharp  as  a  fine  needle,  while  mine  is 
full  and  powerful,  and  rolls  like  an  organ;  and  as  for  her 
*  Fioritures,'  I  understand  them  as  well  as  she." 

With  this  conviction  she  took  the  notes  in  her 
hand,  and  waited  for  the  moment  when  the  "  Ritornelle  " 
should  be  ended;  she  returned  with  a  quiet  smile  the 
anxious  look  which  her  teacher,  Quantz,  fixed  upon 
her. 

The  "  Ritornelle  "  was  ended.  Anna  began  her  song ; 
her  voice  swelled  loudly  and  powerfully  far  above  the 
orchestra,  but  the  king  was  dull  and  immovable;  he  gave 
not  the  slightest  token  of  applause.  Anna  saw  this,  and 
her  voice,  which  had  not  trembled  with  fear,  now  trem- 
bled with  rage;  she  was  resolved  to  awake  the  astonish- 
ment of  the  king  by  the  strength  and  power  of  her  voice; 
she  would  compel  him  to  applaud !  She  gathered  togeth- 
er the  whole  strength  of  her  voice  and  made  so  powerful 
an  effort  that  her  poor  chest  seemed  about  to  burst  asun- 
der; a  wild,  discordant  strain  rose  stunningly  upon  the 
air,  and  now  she  had  indeed  the  triumph  to  see  that  the 
king  laughed !  Yes,  the  king  laughed !  but  not  with  the 
same  smile  with  which  he  greeted  Farinelli,  but  in  mock- 
ery and  contempt.     He  turned  to  Pöllnitz,  and  said : 

"  What  is  the  name  of  this  woman  who  roars  so  hor- 
ribly?" 

Pöllnitz  shrugged  his  shoulders;  he  had  a  kind  of 
feeling  as  if  that  moment  his  creditors  had  seized  him 
by  the  throat. 

"  Sire,"  whispered  he,  "  I  believe  it  is  Anna  Prickerin." 
The  king  laughed ;  yes,  in  spite  of  the  "  Fioritures  "  of 
the  raging  singer,  who  had  seen  Pöllnitz's  shrug  of  the 


AND  HIS  COURT.  387 

shoulders,  and  had  vowed  in  the  spirit  to  take  a  bloody 
vengeance. 

Louder  and  louder  the  fair  Anna  shrieked,  but  the 
king  did  not  applaud.  She  had  now  finished  the  last 
note  of  her  aria,  and  breathlessly  with  loudly-beating 
heart  she  waited  for  the  applause  of  the  king.  It  came 
not!  perfect  stillness  reigned;  even  Pöllnitz  was  speech- 
less. 

"  Do  you  know,  certainly,  that  this  roaring  woman  is 
the  daughter  of  our  tailor  ?  "  said  the  king. 

Pöllnitz  answered,  "  Yes,"  with  a  bleeding  heart. 

"  I  have  often  heard  that  a  tailor  was  called  a  goat, 
but  his  children  are  nevertheless  not  nightingales,  and 
poor  Pricker  can  sooner  force  a  camel  through  the  eye 
of  his  needle  than  make  a  songstress  of  his  daughter. 
The  Germans  cannot  sing,  and  it  is  an  incomprehensible 
mistake  of  Graun  to  bring  such  a  singer  before  us." 

"  She  is  a  pupil  of  Quantz,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "  and  he  has 
often  assured  me  she  would  make  a  great  singer." 

"  Ah,  she  is  a  pupil  of  Quantz,"  repeated  the  king,  and 
his  eye  glanced  around  in  search  of  him.  Quantz,  with 
an  angry  face,  and  his  eyebrows  drawn  together,  was 
seated  at  his  desk.  "  Alas !  "  said  Frederick,  "  when  ho 
makes  such  a  face  as  that,  he  grumbles  with  me  for  two 
days,  and  is  never  pleased  with  my  flute.  I  must  seek 
to  mollify  him,  therefore,  and  when  this  Mademoiselle 
Prickerin  sings  again  I  will  give  a  slight  sign  of  ap- 
plause." 

But  Anna  Prickerin  sang  no  more;  angry  scorn  shot 
like  a  stream  of  fire  through  her  veins,  she  felt  suffocated ; 
tears  rushed  to  her  eyes;  every  thing  about  her  seemed 
to  be  wavering  and  unsteady;  and  as  her  listless,  half- 
unconscious  glances  wandered  around,  she  met  the  gay, 
triumphant  eyes  of  the  Farinelli  fixed  derisively  upon  her. 
Anna  felt  as  if  a  sword  had  pierced  her  heart ;  she  uttered 
a  fearful  cry,  and  sank  unconscious  to  the  floor. 


888  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  What  cry  was  that  ? "  said  the  king,  "  and  what  sig- 
nifies this  strange  movement  among  the  singers  ? " 

"  Sire,  it  appears  that  the  Prickerin  has  fallen  into  a 
fainting-fit,"  said  Pöllnitz. 

The  king  thought  this  a  good  opportunity  to  pacify 
Quantz  by  showing  an  interest  in  his  pupil.  "  That  is 
indeed  a  most  unhappy  circumstance,"  said  the  king, 
aloud.  "  Hasten,  Pöllnitz,  to  inquire  in  my  name  after 
the  health  of  this  gifted  young  singer.  If  she  is  still  suf- 
fering, take  one  of  my  carriages  and  conduct  her  your- 
self to  her  home,  and  do  not  leave  her  till  you  can 
bring  me  -Satisfactory  intelligence  as  to  her  recovery." 
So  saying,  the  king  cast  a  stolen  glance  toward  the  much- 
dreaded  Quantz,  whose  brow  had  become  somewhat  clear- 
er, and  his  expression  less  threatening.  "  We  will,  per- 
haps," whispered  the  king,  "  escape  this  time  with  one 
day's  growling;  I  think  I  have  softened  him."  Fred- 
erick seated  himself,  and  gave  the  signal  for  the  concert 
to  proceed;  he  saw  that,  with  the  assistance  of  the  baron, 
the  unconscious  songstress  had  been  removed. 


CHAPTER   Xin. 

THE  DEATH   OF  THE   OLD  TIME. 

The  music  continued,  while  Pöllnitz,  filled  with  secret 
dread,  ordered  a  court  carriage,  according  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  king,  and  entered  it  with  the  still  insensible 
songstress. 

"  The  king  does  not  know  what  a  fearful  commission 
he  has  given  me,"  thought  Pöllnitz,  as  he  drove  through 
the  streets  with  Anna  Prickerin,  and  examined  her 
countenance  with  terror.    "  Should  she  now  awake,  she 


AND  HIS  COURT.  389 

would  overwhelm  me  with  her  rage.  She  is  capable  of 
scratching  out  my  eyes,  or  even  of  strangling  me." 

But  his  fear  was  groundless.  Anna  did  not  stir;  she 
was  still  unconscious,  as  the  carriage  stopped  before  the 
house  of  her  father.  No  one  came  to  meet  them,  although 
Pöllnitz  ordered  the  servant  to  open  the  door,  and  the 
loud  ringing  of  the  bell  sounded  throughout  the  house. 
No  one  appeared  as  Pöllnitz,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
servants,  lifted  the  insensible  Anna  from  the  carriage 
and  bore  her  into  the  house  to  her  own  room.  As  the 
baron  placed  her  carefully  upon  the  sofa,  she  made  a 
slight  movement  and  heaved  a  deep  sigh. 

"  ISTow  the  storm  will  break  forth,"  thought  Pöllnitz, 
anxiously,  and  he  ordered  the  servants  to  return  to  the 
carriage  and  await  his  return.  He  desired  no  witnesses 
of  the  scene  which  he  expected,  and  in  which  he  had 
good  reason  to  believe  that  he  would  play  but  a  pitiful 
role. 

Anna  Prickerin  now  opened  her  eyes;  her  first  glance 
fell  upon  Pöllnitz,  who  was  bending  over  her  with  a 
tender  smile. 

"  What  happiness,  dearest,"  he  whispered,  "  that  you 
at  last  open  your  eyes !     I  was  dying  with  anxiety." 

Anna  did  not  answer  at  once;  her  eyes  were  directed 
with  a  dreamy  expression  to  the  smiling  countenance  of 
Pöllnitz,  and  while  he  recounted  his  own  tender  care,  and 
the  gracious  sympathy  of  the  king,  Anna  appeared  to  be 
slowly  waking  out  of  her  dream.  Now  a  ray  of  con- 
sciousness and  recollection  overspread  her  features,  and 
throwing  up  her  arm  with  a  rapid  movement  she  adminis- 
tered a  powerful  blow  on  the  cheek  of  her  tender,  smiling 
lover,  who  fell  back  with  his  hand  to  his  face,  whimper- 
ing with  pain. 

"Why  did  you  shrug  your  shoulders?"  she  said,  her 
lips  trembling  with  anger,  and,  springing  up  from  the 
sofa,   she   approached   Pöllnitz   with    a   threatening   ex- 


890  FEEDERICK  THE   GREAT 

pression,  who,  expecting  a  second  explosion,  drew  back. 
"  Why  did  you  shrug  your  shoulders  ?  "  repeated  Anna. 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  I  did  so,  my  Anna,"  stammered 
Pöllnitz. 

She  stamped  impatiently  on  the  floor.  "  I  am  not 
your  Anna.  You  are  a  faithless,  treacherous  man,  and  I 
despise  you;  you  are  a  coward,  you  have  not  the  courage 
to  defend  the  woman  you  have  sworn  to  love  and  protect. 
When  I  ceased  singing,  why  did  you  not  applaud  ?  " 

"  Dearest  Anna,"  said  Pöllnitz,  "  you  are  not  ac- 
quainted with  court  etiquette;  you  do  not  know  that  at 
court  it  is  only  the  king  who  expresses  approval." 

"  You  all  broke  out  into  a  storm  of  applause  as  Fari- 
nelli  finished  singing." 

"  Because  the  king  gave  the  sign." 

Anna  shrugged  her  shoulders  contemptuously,  and 
paced  the  floor  with  rapid  steps.  "  You  think  that  all  my 
hopes,  all  my  proud  dreams  for  the  future  are  destroyed," 
she  murmured,  with  trembling  lips,  while  the  tears  rolled 
slowly  down  her  cheeks.  "  To  think  that  the  king  and 
the  whole  court  laughed  while  I  sang,  and  that  pre- 
sumptuous Italian  heard  and  saw  it  all — I  shall  die  of 
this  shame  and  disgrace.  My  future  is  annihilated,  my 
hopes  trodden  under  foot."  She  covered  her  face  with 
her  hands,  and  wept  and  sobbed  aloud. 

Pöllnitz  had  no  pity  for  her  sufferings,  but  he  remem- 
bered his  creditors,  and  this  thought  rekindled  his  extin- 
guished tenderness.  He  approached  her,  and  gently 
placed  his  arm  around  her  neck.  "  Dearest,"  he  mur- 
mured, "  why  do  you  weep,  how  can  this  little  mischance 
make  you  so  wretched?  Do  we  not  love  each  other?  are 
you  not  still  my  best  beloved,  my  beautiful,  my  adored 
Anna?  Have  you  not  sworn  that  you  love  me,  and  that 
you  ask  no  greater  happiness  than  to  be  united  to  me  ?  " 

Anna  raised  her  head  that  she  might  see  this  tender 
lover. 


I 


AND  HIS  COURT.  391 

"  It  is  true,"  proceeded  Pöllnitz,  "  that  you  did  not  re- 
ceive the  applause  this  evening  which  your  glorious 
talent  deserves;  Farinelli  was  in  your  way.  The  king 
has  a  prejudice  against  German  singers ;  he  says,  '  The 
Germans  can  compose  music,  but  they  cannot  sing.'  That 
prejudice  is  a  great  advantage  for  the  Italian.  If  you 
had  borne  an  Italian  name,  the  king  would  have  been 
charmed  with  your  wonderful  voice;  but  you  are  a  Ger- 
man, and  he  refuses  you  his  approval.  But  what  has 
been  denied  you  here,  you  will  easily  obtain  elsewhere. 
We  will  leave  this  cold,  ungrateful  Berlin,  my  beloved. 
You  shall  take  an  Italian  name,  and  through  my  various 
connections  I  can  make  arrangements  for  you  to  sing  at 
many  courts.  You  will  win  fame  and  gold,  and  we  will 
live  a  blessed  and  happy  life." 

"  I  care  nothing  for  the  gold ;  I  am  rich,  richer  than 
I  even  dreamed.  My  father  told  me  to-day  that  he  pos- 
sessed nearly  seven  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  that 
he  would  disinherit  my  brother,  who  is  now  absent  from 
Berlin.  I  will  be  his  heiress,  and  very  soon,  for  the 
physicians  say  he  can  only  live  a  few  days." 

The  eyes  of  the  baron  gleamed.  "Has  your  father 
made  his  will  ?  has  he  declared  you  his  heiress  ? " 

"  He  intended  doing  so  to-day.  He  ordered  the  law- 
yers to  come  to  him,  and  I  believe  they  were  here 
when  I  started  to  this  miserable  concert.  It  was  not  on 
account  of  the  money,  but  for  fame,  that  I  desired  to  be- 
come a  prima  donna.  But  I  renounce  my  intention; 
this  evening  has  shown  me  many  thorns  where  I  thought 
to  find  only  roses.  I  renounce  honor  and  renown,  and 
desire  only  to  be  happy,  happy  in  your  love  and  compan- 
ionship." 

"  You  are  right ;  we  will  fly  from  this  cold,  faithless 
Berlin  to  happier  regions.  The  world  will  know  no 
happier  couple  than  the  Baron  and  Baroness  von  Pöll- 
nitz." 


392  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

Pöllnitz  now  felt  no  repugnance  at  the  thought  that  the 
tailor's  daughter  had  the  presumptuous  idea  of  becoming 
his  wife.  He  forgave  her  low  origin  for  the  sake  of  her 
immense  fortune,  and  thought  it  not  a  despicable  lot  to 
be  the  husband  of  the  beautiful  Anna  Prickerin.  He  as- 
sured her  of  his  love  in  impassioned  words,  and  Anna 
listened  with  beaming  eyes  and  a  happy  smile.  Sudden- 
by  a  loud  weeping  and  crying,  proceeding  from  the  next 
room,  interrupted  this  charming  scene. 

"  My  father,  it  is  my  father ! "  cried  Anna,  as  she 
hastened  to  the  door  of  the  adjoining  room,  which,  as  we 
know,  contained  the  ancestral  portraits  of  the  Prickers. 
Pöllnitz  followed  her.  In  this  room,  surrounded  by  his 
ancestors,  the  worthy  tailor  lay  upon  his  death-bed. 
Pale  and  colorless  as  the  portraits  was  the  face  of  the 
poor  man;  -but  his  eyes  were  gleaming  with  a  wild,  fever- 
ish glitter.  As  he  perceived  Anna  in  her  splendid  French 
costume,  so  wild  and  fearful  a  laugh  burst  from  his  lips, 
that  even  Pöllnitz  trembled. 

"  Come  to  me,"  said  the  old  man,  with  a  stammering 
voice,  as  he  motioned  to  his  daughter  to  approach  his 
couch.  "  You  and  your  brother  have  broken  my  heart ; 
you  have  given  me  daily  a  drop  of  poison,  of  which  I  have 
been  slowly  dying.  Your  brother  left  my  house  as  the 
prodigal  son,  but  he  has  not  returned  a  penitent ;  he  glories 
in  his  crime ;  he  is  proud  of  his  shame.  Here  is  a  letter 
which  I  received  from  him  to-day,  in  which  he  informs  me 
that  he  has  eloped  with  the  daughter  of  my  second  mur- 
derer, this  French  Pelissier;  and  that  he  intends  to  be- 
come an  actor,  and  thus  drag  through  the  dust  the  old 
and  respectable  name  of  his  fathers,  for  this  noble  work 
he  demands  his  mother's  fortune.  He  shall  have  it — yes, 
he  shall  have  it;  it  is  five  thousand  dollars,  but  from  me 
he  receives  nothing  but  my  curse,  and  I  pray  to  God  that 
it  may  ring  forever  in  his  ears !  " 

The  old  man  lay  back  exhausted,  and  groaned  aloud. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  393 

Anna  stood  with  tearless  eyes  by  the  death-bed  of  her 
father,  and  thought  only  of  the  splendid  future  which 
each  passing  moment  brought  nearer.  Pöllnitz  had  with- 
drawn to  one  of  the  windows,  and  was  considering 
whether  he  should  await  the  death  of  the  old  man  or  re- 
turn immediately  to  the  king. 

Suddenly  Pricker  opened  his  eyes,  and  turned  them 
with  an  angry  and  malicious  expression  toward  his 
daughter. 

"  What  a  great  lady  you  are !  "  he  said,  with  a  fearful 
grin;  "dressed  in  the  latest  fashion,  and  a  wonderful 
songstress,  who  sings  before  the  king  and  his  court.  Such 
a  great  lady  must  be  ashamed  that  her  father  is  a  tailor. 
I  appreciate  that,  and  I  am  going  to  my  grave,  that  I  may 
not  trouble  my  daughter.  Yes,  I  am  going,  and  nothing 
shall  remind  the  proud  songstress  of  me,  neither  my  pres- 
ence nor  any  of  my  possessions.  A  prima  donna  would 
not  be  the  heiress  of  a  tailor." 

The  old  man  broke  out  into  a  wild  laugh,  while  Anna 
stared  at  him,  and  Pöllnitz  came  forward  to  hear  and 
observe. 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  my  father,"  said  Anna, 
trembling  and  disturbed. 

"You  will  soon  understand  me,"  stammered  the  old 
man,  with  a  hoarse  laugh.  "  When  I  am  dead,  and  the 
lawyers  come  and  read  my  will,  which  I  gave  them  to-day, 
then  you  will  know  that  I  have  left  my  fortune  to  the 
poor  of  the  city,  and  not  to  this  great  song-stress,  who 
does  not  need  it,  as  she  has  a  million  in  her  throat.  My 
son  an  actor,  my  daughter  a  prima  donna — it  is  well.  I 
go  joyfully  to  my  grave,  and  thank  God  for  my  release. 
Ah !  you  shall  remember  your  old  father ;  you  shall  curse 
me,  as  I  have  cursed  you;  and  as  you  will  shed  no  tears 
at  my  death,  it  shall,  at  least,  be  a  heavy  blow  to  you. 
You  are  disinherited !  both  disinherited !  the  poor  are  my 
heirs,  and  you  and  your  brother  will  receive  nothing  but 


394  FEEDERICK  THE  GREAT 

the  fortune  of  your  mother,  of  which  I,  unfortunately, 
cannot  deprive  you." 

"  Father,  father,  this  is  not  possible — this  cannot  be 
your  determination !  "  cried  Anna.  "  It  is  not  possible 
for  a  father  to  be  so  cruel,  so  unnatural,  as  to  disinherit 
his  children !  " 

"  Have  you  not  acted  cruelly  and  unnaturally  to  me  ?  " 
asked  the  old  man ;  "  have  you  not  tortured  me  ?  have 
you  not  murdered  me,  with  a  smile  upon  your  lips,  as 
you  did  your  poor  mother,  who  died  of  grief  ?  No,  no,  no 
pity  for  unnatural  children.     You  are  disinherited !  " 

The  old  man  fell  back  with  a  loud  shriek  upon  his 
couch,  and  his  features  assumed  that  fixed  expression 
which  is  death's  herald. 

"  He  is  dying !  "  cried  Anna,  throwing  herself  beside 
her  father ;  "  he  is  dying,  and  he  has  disinherited  me !  " 

"  Yes,  disinherited !  "  stammered  the  heavy  tongue  of 
the  dying  man. 

Pöllnitz  trembled  at  the  fearful  scene;  he  fled  with 
hasty  steps  from  this  gloomy  room,  and  only  recovered 
his  composure  when  once  more  seated  in  his  carriage. 
After  some  moments  of  reflection,  he  said : 

"  I  will  ask  the  king  for  my  release  from  his  service, 
and  I  will  become  a  Protestant,  and  hasten  to  Nuremberg, 
and  marry  the  rich  patrician." 


I 


CHAPTEE   XIV. 

THE  DISCOVERY. 

They  sat  hand  in  hand  in  the  quiet  and  fragrant  con- 
servatory; after  a  long  separation  they  gazed  once  more 
in  each  other's  eyes,  doubting  the  reality  of  their  happi-» 


AND  HIS  COURT.  395 

ness,  and  asking  if  it  were  not  a  dream,  a  delightful 
dream. 

This  was  the  first  time  since  his  return  from  Silesia 
that  Prince  Augustus  William  had  seen  his  Laura  alone; 
the  first  time  he  could  tell  her  of  his  longing  and  his 
suffering;  the  first  time  she  could  whisper  in  his  ear  the 
sweet  and  holy  confession  of  her  love — a  confession  that 
none  should  hear  but  her  lover  and  her  God. 

But  there  were  four  ears  which  heard  every  thing; 
four  eyes  which  saw  all  that  took  place  in  the  myrtle 
arbor.  Louise  von  Schwerin  and  her  lover,  the  handsome 
Fritz  Wendel,  sat  arm  in  arm  in  the  grotto,  and  listened 
attentively  to  the  conversation  of  the  prince  and  his  bride. 

"  How  happy  they  are ! "  whispered  Louise,  with  a 
sigh. 

"  Are  we  not  also  happy  ?  "  asked  Fritz  Wendel,  ten- 
derly, clasping  his  arm  more  firmly  around  her.  "  Is 
not  our  love  as  ardent,  as  passionate,  and  as  pure  as 
theirs?" 

"  And  yet  the  world  would  shed  tears  of  pity  for  them, 
while  we  would  be  mocked  and  laughed  at,"  said  Louise, 
sighing. 

"  It  is  true  that  the  love  of  the  poor  gardener  for  the 
beautiful  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  is  only  calculated 
to  excite  ridicule,"  murmured  Fritz  Wendel ;  "  but  that 
shall  and  will  be  changed;  I  shall  soon  begin  the  new 
career  which  I  have  planned  for  myself;  my  Louise  need 
then  no  longer  blush  for  her  lover,  and  my  adoration  for 
her  shall  no  longer  be  a  cause  of  shame  and  humiliation. 
I  have  a  means  by  which  I  can  purchase  rank  and  posi- 
tion, and  I  intend  to  employ  this  means." 

"Pray  tell  me  how;  let  me  know  your  plans,"  said 
Louise. 

He  pointed  with  a  cruel  smile  to  the  lovers  in  the 
myrtle  arbor. 

"  This  secret  is  my  purchase  money,"  said  he,  whisper- 


396  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

ing;  "I  shall  betray  them  to  the  king;  and  he  will  give 
me  rank  and  wealth  for  this  disclosure;  for  upon  this 
secret  depends  the  future  of  Prussia.  Let  us,  therefore, 
listen  attentively  to  what  they  say,  that " 

"  'No,''  said  Louise,  interrupting  him  with  vivacity, 
"  we  will  not  listen.  It  is  cruel  and  ignoble  to  desire  to 
purchase  our  own  happiness  with  the  misery  of  others; 
it  is " 

"  For  Heaven's  sake  be  quiet  and  listen !  "  said  Fritz 
Wendel,  softly,  laying  his  hand  on  her  angry  lips. 

The  conversation  of  the  lovers  in  the  myrtle  arbor  had 
now  taken  another  direction.  Their  eyes  no  longer 
sparkled  with  delight,  but  had  lost  their  lustre,  and  an  ex- 
pression of  deep  sadness  rested  on  their  features. 

"  Is  it  then  really  true  ? "  said  Laura,  mournfully ; 
"  you  are  affianced  to  the  Princess  of  Brunswick  ?  " 

"  It  is  true,"  said  the  prince,  in  a  low  voice.  "  There 
was  no  other  means  of  securing  and  preserving  our  secret 
than  to  seem  to  yield  to  the  king's  command,  and  to  con- 
sent to  this  alliance  with  a  good  grace.  This  cloak  will 
shield  our  love  until  we  can  acknowledge  it  before  the 
whole  world;  and  that  depends,  my  beloved,  upon  you 
alone.  Think  of  the  vows  of  eternal  love  and  fidelity  we 
have  made  to  each  other;  remember  that  you  have  prom- 
ised to  be  mine  for  all  eternity,  and  to  devote  your  whole 
life  to  me;  remember  that  you  wear  my  engagement-ring 
on  your  finger,  and  are  my  bride." 

"  And  yet  you  are  affianced  to  another,  and  wear  an- 
other engagement  ring !  " 

"  But  this  princess,  to  whom  I  have  been  affianced, 
knows  that  I  do  not  love  her.  I  have  opened  my  heart 
to  her ;  I  told  her  that  I  loved  you  alone,  and  could  never 
love  another;  that  no  woman  but  Laura  von  Pannewitz 
should  ever  be  my  wife;  and  she  was  generous  enough  to 
give  her  assistance  and  consent  to  be  considered  my  bride 
until  our  union  should  no  longer  need  this  protection. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  397 

And  now,  my  dear  Laura,  I  conjure  you,  by  our  love  and 
the  happiness  of  our  lives,  yield  to  my  ardent  entreaties 
and  my  fervent  prayers;  have  the  courage  to  defy  the 
world  and  its  prejudices.  Follow  me,  my  beloved;  flee 
•with  me  and  consent  to  be  my  wife  1  " 

The  glances  with  which  he  regarded  her  were  so  lov- 
ing, so  imploring,  that  Laura  could  not  find  in  her  heart 
to  offer  decided  resistance.  Her  own  heart  pleaded  for 
him;  and  now  when  she  might  altogether  lose  him  if  she 
refused  his  request,  now  that  he  was  affianced  to  an- 
other, she  was  filled  with  a  torturing  jealousy;  she  was 
now  conscious  that  it  would  be  easier  to  die  than  re- 
nounce her  lover. 

But  she  still  had  the  strength  to  battle  with  her  own 
weak  heart,  to  desire  to  shut  out  the  alluring  voices  which 
resounded  in  her  own  breast.  Like  Odysseus,  she  tried 
to  be  deaf  to  the  sirens'  voices  which  tempted  her.  But 
ßhe  still  heard  them,  and  although  she  had  found  strength 
to  refuse  her  lover's  prayers  and  entreaties  to  flee  with 
him,  yet  she  could  not  repel  his  passionate  appeals  to  her 
to  be  his  wife. 

It  was  so  sweet  to  listen  to  the  music  of  his  voice; 
Buch  bliss  to  lean  her  head  on  his  shoulder,  to  look  up 
into  his  handsome  countenance  and  to  drink  in  the  words 
of  ardent  and  devoted  love  which  fell  from  his  lips;  to 
know  what  he  suffers  is  for  your  sake !  It  rests  with  you 
to  give  him  happiness  or  despair.  She  knew  not  that 
the  words  which  she  drank  in  were  coursing  like  fire 
through  her  own  veins,  destroying  her  resolution  and 
turning  her  strength  to  ashes. 

As  he,  at  last,  brought  to  despair  by  her  silence  and 
resistance,  burst  into  tears,  and  accused  her  of  cruelty 
and  indifference,  as  she  saw  his  noble  countenance  shad- 
owed with  pain  and  sorrow,  she  no  longer  found  courage 
to  offer  resistance,  and  throwing  herself  into  his  arms, 
with  a  happy  blush,  she  whispered: 


398  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

"  Take  me ;  I  am  yours  forever !  I  accept  you  as  my 
master  and  husband.  Your  will  shall  be  mine;  what 
you  command  I  will  obey;  where  you  call  me  there  will  I 
go;  I  will  follow  you  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  noth- 
ing but  death  shall  hereafter  separate  us !  " 

The  prince  pressed  her  closely  and  fervently  to  his 
heart,  and  kissed  her  pure  brow. 

"  God  bless  you,  my  darling ;  God  bless  you  for  this 
resolution."  His  voice  was  now  firm  and  full,  and  his 
countenance  had  assumed  an  expression  of  tranquillity 
and  energy.  He  was  no  longer  the  sighing,  despairing 
lover,  but  a  determined  man,  who  knew  what  his  wishes 
were,  and  had  the  courage  and  energy  to  carry  them  into 
execution. 

Fritz  Wendel  pressed  Louise  more  closely  to  his  side, 
and  whispered : 

"  You  say  that  Laura  is  an  angel  of  virtue  and  mod- 
esty, and  yet  she  has  not  the  cruel  courage  to  resist  her 
lover;  she  yields  to  his  entreaties,  and  is  determined  to 
flee  with  him.  Will  you  be  less  kind  and  humane  than 
this  tender,  modest  Laura?  Oh,  Louise,  you  should  also 
follow  your  tender,  womanly  heart;  flee  with  me  and 
become  my  wife.  I  will  conceal  you,  and  then  go  to 
those  who  would  now  reject  my  suit  scornfully,  and  dic- 
tate terms  to  them." 

"  I  will  do  as  she  does,"  whispered  Louise,  with  glow- 
ing cheeks.  "  What  Laura  can  do,  I  may  also  do ;  if 
she  flies  with  her  lover,  I  will  fly  with  you;  if  she 
becomes  his  wife,  I  will  be  yours.  But  let  us  be  quiet, 
and  listen." 

"  And  now,  my  Laura,  listen  attentively  to  every  word 
I  utter,"  said  Prince  Augustus  William,  gravely.  "I 
have  made  all  the  necessary  preparations,  and  in  a  week 
you  will  be  my  wife.  There  is  a  good  and  pious  divine 
on  one  of  my  estates  who  is  devoted  to  me.  He  has 
promised  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony.     On  leav- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  399 

ing  Berlin  we  will  first  flee  to  him,  and  our  union  will 
receive  his  blessing  in  the  village  church  at  night;  a 
carriage  will  await  us  at  the  door,  which,  with  fresh  re- 
lays of  horses,  will  rapidly  conduct  us  to  the  Prussian 
boundary.  I  have  already  obtained  from  my  friend  the 
English  ambassador  a  passport,  which  will  carry  us  safely 
to  England  under  assumed  names;  once  there,  my  uncle, 
the  King  of  England,  will  not  refuse  his  protection  and 
assistance;  and  by  his  intercession  we  will  be  reconciled 
to  the  king  my  brother.  When  he  sees  that  our  union  has 
been  accomplished,  he  will  give  up  all  useless  attempts  to 
separate  us." 

"  But  he  can  and  will  punish  you  for  this ;  you  will 
thereby  forfeit  your  right  of  succession  to  the  throne, 
and  for  my  sake  you  will  be  forced  to  renounce  your 
proud  and  brilliant  future." 

"  I  shall  not  regret  it,"  said  the  prince,  smiling.  "  I 
do  not  long  for  a  crown,  and  will  not  purchase  this  bauble 
of  earthly  magnifisence  at  the  expense  of  my  happiness 
and  my  love.  And  perhaps  I  have  not  the  strength,  the 
talent,  or  the  power  of  intellect  to  be  a  ruler.  It  suffices 
me  to  rule  in  your  heart,  and  be  a  monarch  in  the  king- 
dom of  your  love.  If  I  can  therefore  purchase  the  un- 
contested possession  of  my  beloved  by  renouncing  all 
claims  to  the  throne,  I  shall  do  so  with  joy  and  without 
the  slightest  regret." 

"  But  I,  poor,  humble,  weak  girl  that  I  am,  how  can  I 
make  good  the  loss  you  will  sustain  for  my  sake  ?  "  asked 
Laura. 

"  Your  love  will  be  more  than  a  compensation.  You 
must  now  lay  aside  all  doubt  and  indecision.  You  know 
our  plans  for  the  future.  On  my  part  all  the  preliminary 
measures  have  been  taken;  you  should  also  make  whatever 
preparations  are  necessary.  It  is  Hartwig,  the  curate  of 
Oranienburg,  who  is  to  marry  us.  Send  the  necessary 
apparel  and  whatever  you  most  need  to  him,  without  a 


400  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

word  or  message.  The  curate  has  already  been  advised 
of  their  arrival,  and  will  retain  the  trunks  unopened.  On 
next  Tuesday,  a  week  from  to-day,  the  king  will  give  a 
ball.  For  two  days  previous  to  this  ball  you  will  keep 
your  room  on  the  plea  of  sickness ;  this  will  be  a  sufficient 
excuse  for  your  not  accompanying  the  queen.  I  shall  ac- 
cept the  invitation,  but  will  not  appear  at  the  ball,  and 
will  await  you  at  the  castle  gate  of  Monbijou.  At  eight 
o'clock  the  ball  commences;  at  nine  you  will  leave  your 
room  and  the  castle,  at  the  gate  of  which  I  will  receive 
you.  At  a  short  distance  from  the  gate  a  carriage  will 
be  in  readiness  to  convey  us  to  Oranienburg,  where  we 
will  stop  before  the  village  church.  There  we  will  find  a 
preacher  standing  before  the  altar,  ready  to  perform  the 
ceremony,  and  when  this  is  accomplished  we  will  enter 
another  carriage  which  will  rapidly  convey  us  to  Ham- 
burg, where  we  will  find  a  ship,  hired  by  the  English  am- 
bassador, ready  to  take  us  to  England.  You  see,  dear 
Laura,  that  every  thing  has  been  well  considered,  and 
nothing  can  interfere  with  our  plans,  now  that  we  under- 
stand each  other.  In  a  week,  therefore,  remember, 
Laura." 

"  In  a  week,"  she  whispered.  "  I  have  no  will  but 
yours." 

"  Until  then  we  will  neither  see  nor  speak  with  each 
other,  that  no  thoughtless  word  may  excite  suspicion  in 
the  breasts  of  the  spies  who  surround  us.  We  must  give 
each  other  no  word,  no  message,  no  letter,  or  sign;  but 
I  will  await  you  at  the  castle  gate  at  nine  o'clock  on  next 
Tuesday,  and  you  will  not  let  me  wait  in  vain." 

"  ISTo,  >you  shall  not  wait  in  vain,"  whispered  Laura, 
with  a  happy  smile,  hiding  her  blushing  face  on  the  breast 
of  her  lover. 

"  And  you,  will  you  let  me  wait  in  vain  ? "  asked  Fritz 
Wendel,  raising  Louise's  head  from  his  breast,  and  gaz- 
ing on  her  glowing  and  dreamy  countenance. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  401 

"  iNTo,  I  shall  not  let  you  wait  in  vain,"  said  Louise  von 
Schwerin.  "  We  will  also  have  our  carriage,  only  we  will 
leave  a  little  sooner  than  the  prince  and  Laura.  We  will 
also  drive  to  Oranienburg,  and  await  the  prince  before 
the  door  of  the  church.  We  will  tell  him  we  knew  his 
secret  and  did  not  betray  him.  We  will  acknowledge  our 
love,  Laura  will  intercede  for  us,  and  the  preacher  will 
have  to  perform  the  ceremony  for  two  couples  instead  of 
one.  We  will  then  accompany  the  prince  and  his  wife 
in  their  flight  to  England ;  from  there  the  prince  will  ob- 
tain pardon  of  the  king,  and  we  the  forgiveness  of  my 
family.  Oh,  this  is  a  splendid,  a  magnificent  plan! — 
a  flight,  a  secret  marriage  at  night,  and  a  long  journey. 
This  will  be  quite  like  the  charming  romances  which  I 
am  so  fond  of,  and  mine  will  be  a  fantastic  and  adventu- 
rous life.  But  what  is  that  ?  "  said  she.  "  Did  you  hear 
nothing?  It  seems  to  me  I  heard  a  noise  as  of  some  one 
opening  the  outer  door  of  the  conservatory." 

"  Be  still,"  murmured  Fritz  Wendel,  "  I  heard  it  also ; 
let  us  therefore  be  on  our  guard." 

The  prince  and  Laura  had  also  heard  this  noise,  and 
were  listening  in  breathless  terror,  their  glances  fastened 
on  the  door.  Perhaps  it  was  only  the  wind  which  had 
moved  the  outer  door;  perhaps — but  no,  the  door  opened 
noiselessly,  and  a  tall  female  figure  cautiously  entered 
the  saloon. 

"  The  queen !  "  whispered  Laura,  trembling. 

"  My  mother !  "  murmured  the  prince,  anxiously  look- 
ing around  for  some  means  of  escape.  He  now  perceived 
the  dark  grotto,  and  pointing  rapidly  toward  it,  he  whis- 
pered :  "  Quick,  quick,  conceal  yourself  there.  I  will  re- 
main and  await  my  mother." 

The  stately  figure  of  the  queen  could  already  be  seen 
rapidly  advancing  through  the  flowers  and  shrubbery,  and 
now  her  sparkling  eye  and  proud  and  angry  face  were 
visible. 


403  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Quick,"  whispered  the  prince,  "  conceal  yourself,  or 
we  are  lost !  " 

Laura  slipped  hastily  behind  the  myrtle  and  laurel 
foliage  and  attained  the  asylum  of  the  grotto,  unob- 
served by  the  queen;  she  entered  and  leaned  tremblingly 
against  the  inner  wall.  Blinded  by  the  sudden  darkness, 
she  could  see  nothing,  and  she  was  almost  benumbed  with 
terror. 

Suddenly  she  heard  a  low,  whispering  voice  at  her 
side :  "  Laura,  dear  Laura,  fear  nothing.  We  are  true 
friends,  who  know  your  secret,  and  desire  to  assist  you." 

"Follow  me,  mademoiselle,"  whispered  another  voice; 
"confide  in  us  as  we  confide  in  you.  We  know  your 
secret;  you  shall  learn  ours.  Give  me  your  hand;  I  will 
conduct  you  from  this  place  noiselessly  and  unobserved, 
and  you  can  then  return  to  the  castle." 

Laura  hardly  knew  what  she  was  doing.  She  was  gen- 
tly drawn  forward,  and  saw  at  her  side  a  smiling  girlish 
face,  and  now  she  recognized  the  little  maid  of  honor, 
Louise  von  Schwerin. 

"  Louise,"  said  she,  in  a  low  voice,  "  what  does  all  this 
mean  ? " 

"  Be  still,"  she  whispered ;  "  follow  him  down  the  stair- 
way.   Farewell  1  I  will  remain  and  cover  the  retreat." 

Louise  now  hastily  concealed  the  opening  through 
which  Fritz  Wendel  and  Laura  had  disappeared,  and 
then  slipped  noiselessly  back  to  the  grotto,  and  concealed 
herself  behind  the  shrubbery  at  its  entrance,  so  that  she 
could  see  and  hear  every  thing  that  took  place. 

It  was  in  truth  Queen  Sophia  Dorothea,  who  had  dis- 
missed her  attendants  and  come  alone  to  the  conservatory 
at  this  unusual  hour. 

This  was  the  time  at  which  the  queen's  maids  of  honor 
were  not  on  service,  and  were  at  liberty  to  do  as  they 
pleased.  The  queen  had  been  in  the  habit  of  reposing  at 
this  time,  but  to-day  she  could  not  find  rest;  annoyed 


AND  HIS  COURT.  403 

at  her  sleeplessness,  she  had  arisen,  and  in  walking  up 
and  down  had  stepped  to  the  window  and  looked  dream- 
ily down  into  the  still  and  desolate  garden.  Then  it  was 
that  she  thought  she  saw  a  female  figure  passing  hurried- 
ly down  the  avenue.  It  must  have  been  one  of  her  maids 
of  honor ;  and  although  the  queen  had  not  recognized  her, 
she  was  convinced  that  it  was  none  other  than  Laura  von 
Pannewitz,  and  that  she  was  now  going  to  a  rendezvous' 
with  her  unknown  lover,  whom  the  queen  had  hitherto 
vainly  endeavored  to  discover.  The  queen  called  her 
waiting-maids  to  her  assistance,  and  putting  on  her 
furs  and  hood,  she  told  them  she  felt  a  desire  to  take  a 
solitary  walk  in  the  garden,  and  that  none  of  her  attend- 
ants should  be  called,  with  which  she  hurried  into  the 
garden,  following  the  same  path  which  the  veiled  lady  had 
taken.  She  followed  the  foot-tracks  in  the  snow  to  the 
conservatory,  and  entered  without  hesitation,  determined 
to  discover  the  secret  of  her  maid  of  honor,  and  to  punish 
her. 

It  was  fortunate  for  the  poor  lovers  that  the  increasing 
corpulence  of  the  queen  and  her  swollen  right  foot  ren- 
dered her  advance  rather  slow,  so  that  when  she  at  last 
reached  the  lower  end  of  the  conservatory  she  found  no 
one  there  but  her  son  Augustus  William,  whose  embar- 
rassed and  constrained  reception  of  herself  convinced 
the  queen  that  her  appearance  was  not  only  a  sur- 
prise, but  also  a  disagreeable  one.  She  therefore  de- 
manded of  him  with  severity  the  cause  of  his  unexpected 
and  unusual  visit  to  her  conservatory;  and  when  Augus- 
tus William  smilingly  replied — 

"  That  he  had  awaited  here  the  queen's  awakening,  in 
order  that  he  might  pay  his  visit " 

The  queen  asked  abruptly :  "  And  who,  my  son,  helped 
to  dispel  the  ennui  of  this  tedious  waiting?  " 

"  No  one,  my  dear  mother,"  said  the  prince ;  but  he 
did  not  dare  to  meet  his  mother's  penetrating  glance. 


404  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  'No  one  ?  "  repeated  she ;  "  but  I  heard  you  speaking 
on  entering  the  conservatory." 

"  You  know,  your  majesty,  that  I  have  inherited  the 
habit  of  speaking  aloud  to  myself  from  my  father,"  re- 
plied the  prince,  with  a  constrained  smile. 

"  The  king  my  husband  did  not  cease  speaking  when  I 
made  my  appearance,"  exclaimed  the  queen,  angrily ;  "  he 
had  no  secrets  to  hide  from  me." 

"  The  thoughts  of  my  royal  father  were  grand,  and 
worthy  of  the  sympathy  of  Queen  Sophia  Dorothea,"  said 
the  prince,  bowing  low. 

"  God  forbid  that  the  thoughts  of  his  son  should  be 
of  another  and  less  worthy  character ! "  exclaimed  the 
queen.  "  My  sons  should,  at  least,  be  too  proud  to  soil 
their  lips  with  an  untruth;  and  if  they  have  the  courage 
to  do  wrong,  they  should  also  find  courage  to  acknowl- 
edge it." 

"  I  do  not  understand  you,  my  dear  mother ; "  and 
meeting  her  penetrating  glance  with  quiet  composure, 
he  continued,  "  I  am  conscious  of  no  wrong,  and  conse- 
quently have  none  to  acknowledge." 

"  This  is  an  assurance  which  deserves  to  be  un- 
masked," exclaimed  the  queen,  who  could  no  longer  sup- 
press her  anger.  "  You  must  know,  prince,  that  I  am  not 
to  be  deceived  by  your  seeming  candor  and  youthful  arro- 
gance. I  know  that  you  were  not  alone,  for  I  myself  saw 
the  lady  coming  here  who  kept  you  company  while  await- 
ing me,  and  I  followed  her  to  this  house." 

"  Then  it  seems  that  your  majesty  has  followed  a  fata 
morgana,'"  said  the  prince,  with  a  forced  smile;  "for, 
as  you  see,  I  am  alone,  and  no  one  else  is  present  in  the 
conservatory." 

But  even  while  speaking,  the  prince  glanced  involun- 
tarily toward  the  grotto  which  concealed  his  secret. 

The  Queen  Sophia  Dorothea  caught  this  glance,  and 
divined  its  meaning. 


AND  HIS  COURT.  405 

"  There  is  no  one  in  the  saloon,  and  it  now  remains  to 
examine  the  grotto,"  said  she,  stepping  forward  hastily. 

The  prince  seized  her  hand,  and  endeavored  to  hold 
her  back. 

"  I  conjure  you,  mother,  do  not  go  too  far  in  your 
suspicion  and  your  examinations,  Kemember  that  your 
suspicion  wounds  me." 

The  queen  gave  him  a  proud,  angry  glance. 

"  I  am  here  on  my  own  property,"  said  she,  withdraw- 
ing her  hand,  "  and  no  one  shall  oppose  my  will." 

"  Well,  then,  madame,  follow  your  inclination,"  said 
the  prince,  with  a  resolute  air ;  "  I  wished  to  spare  you 
an  annoyance.  Let  discord  and  sorrow  come  over  us, 
if  your  majesty  will  have  it  so ;  and  as  you  are  inexorable, 
you  will  also  find  me  firm  and  resolute.  Examine  the 
grotto,  if  you  will." 

He  offered  her  his  arm  and  conducted  her  to  the 
grotto.  Sophia  Dorothea  felt  disarmed  by  her  son's  reso- 
lute bearing,  and  she  was  almost  convinced  that  she  had 
done  him  injustice,  and  that  no  one  was  concealed  in  the 
grotto.  With  a  benignant  smile  she  had  turned  to  her 
son,  to  say  a  few  soothing  words,  when  she  heard  a  low 
rustle  among  the  shrubbery,  and  saw  something  white 
flitting  through  the  foliage. 

"  And  you  say,  my  son,  that  I  was  deceived  by  a  fata 
morgana,''^  exclaimed  the  queen,  hurrying  forward  with 
outstretched  arm.  "  Come,  my  young  lady,  and  save  us 
and  yourself  the  shame  of  drawing  you  forcibly  from 
your  hiding-place." 

The  queen  had  not  been  mistaken.  Something  moved 
among  the  shrubbery,  and  now  a  female  figure  stepped 
forth  and  threw  herself  at  the  feet  of  the  queen. 

"  Pardon,  your  majesty,  pardon !  I  am  innocent  of 
any  intention  to  intrude  on  your  majesty's  privacy.  I 
had  fallen  asleep  in  this  grotto,  and  awoke  when  it  was 
too  late  to  escape,  as  your  majesty  was  already  at  the 

MuHLBACH  18  Vol,  1 


406  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

entrance  of  the  conservatory.  In  this  manner  I  have 
been  an  involuntary  witness  of  your  conversation.  This 
is  my  whole  fault." 

The  queen  listened  with  astonishment,  while  the 
prince  regarded  with  consternation  the  kneeling  girl  who 
had  been  found  here  in  the  place  of  his  Laura. 

"  This  is  not  the  voice  of  Mademoiselle  von  Panne- 
witz,"  said  the  queen,  as  she  passed  out  into  the  light, 
and  commanded  the  kneeling  figure  to  follow  her,  that  she 
might  see  her  face.  The  lady  arose  and  stepped  forward. 
"  Louise  von  Schwerin !  "  exclaimed  the  queen  and  the 
prince  at  the  same  time,  while  the  little  maid  of  honor 
folded  her  hands  imploringly,  and  said,  with  an-  expres- 
sion of  childish  innocence : 

"  O  your  majesty,  have  compassion  with  me !  Yes- 
terday's ball  made  me  so  very  tired;  and  as  your  majes- 
ty was  sleeping,  I  thought  I  would  come  here  and  sleep 
a  little  too,  although  I  had  not  forgotten  that  your 
majesty  was  not  pleased  to  have  us  visit  this  conserva- 
tory alone." 

Sophia  Dorothea  did  not  honor  her  with  a  glance; 
her  eyes  rested  on  her  son  with  an  expression  of  severity 
and  scorn. 

"Really,  I  had  a  better  opinion  of  you,"  said  she. 
"  It  is  no  great  achievement  to  mislead  a  child,  and  one 
that  is  altogether  unworthy  of  a  royal  prince." 

"  My  mother,"  exclaimed  the  prince,  indignantly, 
"  you  do  not  believe " 

"  I  believe  what  I  see,"  said  the  queen,  interrupting 
him.  "  Have  done  with  your  assurances  of  innocence, 
and  bow  to  the  truth,  which  has  judged  you  in  spite  of 
your  denial.  And  you,  my  young  lady,  will  accompany 
me,  and  submit  to  my  commands  in  silence,  and  without 
excuses.  Come,  and  assume  a  cheerful  and  uncon- 
strained air,  if  you  please.  I  do  not  wish  my  court  to 
hear  of  this  scandal,  and  to  read  your  guilt  in  your  terri- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  407 

fied  countenance.    I  shall  take  care  that  you  do  not  be- 
tray your  guilt  in  words.     Come." 

The  prince  looked  after  them  with  an  expression  of 
confusion  and  astonishment.  "  Well,  no  matter  how  this 
riddle  is  solved,"  murmured  he,  after  the  queen  had  left 
the  conservatory  with  her  maid  of  honor,  "  Laura  is  safe 
at  all  events,  and  in  a  week  we  will  flee." 


CHAPTER   XV. 

THE   COUNTERMINE. 

Three  days  had  slowly  passed  by,  and  Fritz  Wendel 
waited  in  vain  for  a  sign  or  message  from  his  beloved. 
He  groped  his  way  every  day  through  the  subterranean 
alley  to  the  grotto,  and  stood  every  night  under  her  win- 
dow, hoping  in  vain  for  a  signal  or  soft  whisper  from  her. 

The  windows  were  always  curtained  and  motionless, 
and  no  one  could  give  the  unhappy  gardener  any  news 
of  the  poor  Louise  von  Schwerin,  who  was  closely  con- 
fined in  her  room,  and  confided  to  the  special  guard  of 
a  faithful  chambermaid. 

The  queen  told  her  ladies  that  Louise  was  suffering 
from  an  infectious  disease;  the  queen's  physician  con- 
firmed this  opinion,  and  cautioned  the  ladies  of  the  court 
against  any  communication  with  the  poor  invalid.  No 
special  command  was  therefore  necessary  to  keep  the 
maids  of  honor  away  from  the  prisoner;  she  was  utterly 
neglected,  and  her  old  companions  passed  her  door  with 
flying  steps.  But  the  queen,  as  it  appeared,  did  not  fear 
this  contagion ;  she  was  seen  to  enter  the  sick  girl's  room 
every  day,  and  to  remain  a  long  time.  The  tender  sympa- 
thy of  the  queen  excited  the  admiration  of  the  whole 


408  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

court,  and  no  one  guessed  what  torturing  anxiety  op- 
pressed the  heart  of  the  poor  prisoner  whenever  the  queen 
entered  the  room;  no  one  heard  the  stern,  hard,  threat- 
ening words  of  Sophia;  no  one  supposed  that  she  came, 
not  to  nurse  the  sick  girl,  but  to  overwhelm  her  with 
reproaches. 

Louise  withstood  all  the  menaces  and  upbraidings  of 
the  queen  bravely;  she  had  the  courage  to  appear  unem- 
barrassed, and,  except  to  reiterate  her  innocence,  to  re- 
main perfectly  silent.  She  knew  well  that  she  could  not 
betray  Laura  without  compromising  herself;  she  knew 
that  if  the  queen  discovered  the  mysterious  flight  of 
Laura,  she  would,  at  the  same  time,  be  informed  of  her 
love  affair  with  the  poor  gardener,  and  of  their  secret  as- 
signations. Louise  feared  that  she  would  be  made  laugh- 
able and  ridiculous  by  this  exposure,  and  this  fear  made 
her  resolute  and  decided,  and  enabled  her  to  bear  her 
weary  imprisonment  patiently.  "  I  cannot  be  held  a  pris- 
oner for  ever,"  she  said  to  herself.  "If  I  confess  noth- 
ing, the  queen  must  at  last  be  convinced  of  my  innocence, 
and  set  me  at  liberty." 

But  Fritz  Wendel  was  less  patient  than  his  cunning 
Louise.  He  could  no  longer  support  this  torture;  an«l 
as  the  fourth  day  brought  no  intelligence,  and  no  trace  of 
Louise,  he  was  determined  to  dare  the  worst,  and,  like 
Alexander,  to  cut  the  gordian  knot  which  he  could  not 
untie.  With  bold  decision  he  entered  the  castle  and  de- 
manded to  speak  with  the  king,  stating  that  he  had  im- 
portant discoveries  to  make  known. 

The  king  received  him  instantly,  and  at  Fritz  Wen- 
del's  request  dismissed  his  adjutants. 

"  Now  we  are  without  witnesses,  speak,"  said  the  king. 

"  I  know  a  secret,  your  majesty,  which  concerns  the 
honour  and  the  future  of  the  royal  family;  and  you  will 
graciously  pardon  me  when  I  say  I  will  not  sell  this  secret 
except  for  a  great  price." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  409 

The  king's  eyes  rested  upon  the  impudent  face  of 
Fritz  Wendel  with  a  dangerous  expression.  "  Name 
your  price,"  said  he,  "but  think  well.  If  your  secret  is 
not  worth  the  price  you  demand,  you  may  perhaps  pay 
for  it  with  your  head,  certainly  with  your  liberty." 

"  My  secret  is  of  the  greatest  value,  for  it  will  save 
the  dynasty  of  the  Hohenzollerns,"  said  Fritz  Wendel, 
boldly;  "but  I  will  sell  it  to  your  majesty — I  will  dis- 
close it  only  after  you  have  graciously  promised  me  my 
price." 

"  Before  I  do  that  I  must  know  your  conditions,"  said 
the  king,  with  difficulty  subduing  his  rage.  . 

"  I  demand  for  myself  a  major's  commission,  and  the 
hand  of  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin." 

In  the  beginning  the  king  looked  at  the  bold  speaker 
with  angry  amazement;  soon,  however,  his  glance  became 
kind  and  pitiful.  "  I  have  to  do  with  a  madman,"  thought 
he;  "I  will  be  patient,  and  give  way  to  his  humor.  I 
grant  you  your  price,"  said  he ;  "  speak  on." 

So  Fritz  Wendel  began.  He  made  known  the  en- 
gagement of  the  prince;  he  explained  the  plan  of  flight; 
he  was  so  clear,  so  exact  in  all  his  statements,  that  Fred- 
erick soon  saw  he  was  no  maniac;  that  these  were  no 
pictures  of  a  disordered  brain,  but  a  threatening,  fright- 
ful reality. 

When  the  gardener  had  closed,  the  king,  his  arms 
folded  across  his  back,  walked  several  times  backward  and 
forward  through  the  room;  then  suddenly  stopped  before 
Fritz  Wendel,  and  seemed,  with  his  sharp  glance,  to 
probe  the  bottom  of  his  soul. 

"  Can  you  write  ?  "  said  the  king. 

"I  can  write  Gerrnan,  French,  English,  and  Latin," 
said  he,  proudly. 

"  Seat  yourself  there,  and  write  what  I  shall  dictate 
in  German.  Does  Mademoiselle  von  Schwerin  know 
your  hand  ? " 


410  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  Sire,  she  has  received  at  least  twenty  letters  from 
me." 

"  Then  write  now,  as  I  shall  dictate,  the  one-and- 
twentieth." 

It  was  a  short,  laconic,  but  tender  and  impressive  love- 
letter,  which  Frederick  dictated.  Fritz  Wendel  im- 
plored his  beloved  to  keep  her  promise,  and  on  the  same 
day  in  which  the  prince  would  fly  with  Laura  to  escape 
with  him  to  Oranienburg,  to  entreat  the  protection  of  the 
prince,  and  through  his  influence  to  induce  the  priest  to 
perform  the  marriage  ceremony;  he  fixed  the  time  and 
hour  of  flight,  and  besought  her  to  leave  the  castle 
punctually,  and  follow  him,  without  fear,  who  would  be 
found  waiting  for  her  at  the  castle  gate. 

"  Now,  sign  it,"  said  the  king,  "  and  fold  it  as  you  are 
accustomed  to  do.  Give  me  the  letter;  I  will  see  that  it 
is  delivered." 

"  And  my  price,  majesty,"  said  Fritz,  for  the  first 
time  trembling. 

The  king's  clouded  brow  threatened  a  fearful  storm. 
"  You  shall  have  the  price  which  your  treachery  and 
your  madness  has  earned,"  said  Frederick,  in  that  tone 
which  made  all  who  heard  it  tremble.  "  Yes,  you  shall 
have  what  you  have  earned,  and  what  your  daring  in- 
solence deserves.  Were  all  these  things  true  which  you 
have  related  with  so  bold  a  brow,  you  would  deserve  to  be 
hung;  you  would  have  committed  a  twofold  crime! — ■ 
have  been  the  betrayer  of  a  royal  prince — have  watched 
him  like  a  base  spy,  and  listened  to  his  secrets,  in  order  to 
sell  them,  and  sought  to  secure  your  own  happiness  by  the 
misery  of  two  noble  souls !  You  would  have  committed 
the  shameful  and  unpardonable  crime  of  misleading  an 
innocent  child,  who,  by  birth,  rank,  and  education,  is 
eternally  separated  from  you.  Happily  for  you,  all  this 
romance  is  the  birth  of  your  sick  fancy.  I  will  not, 
therefore,  punish  you,  but  I  will  cure  you,  as  fools  and 


AND  HIS  COURT.  411 

madmen  are  cured;  I  will  send  you  to  a  madhouse  until 
your  senses  are  restored,  and  you  confess  that  this  wild 
story  is  the  picture  of  your  disordered  brain — until  you 
swear  that  these  are  bold  lies  with  which  you  have  abused 
my  patience.  The  restored  invalid  will  receive  my  for- 
■  giveness — the  obstinate  culprit,  never !  " 

The  king  rang  the  bell,  and  said  to  his  adjutants, 
"  Take  this  man  out,  and  deliver  him  to  the  nearest  senti- 
nels; command  them  to  place  him  at  once  in  the  mili- 
tary hospital;  he  is  to  be  secured  in  the  wards  prepared 
for  madmen — no  man  shall  speak  with  him;  and  if  he 
utters  any  wild  and  senseless  tales,  I  am  to  be  informed 
of  it." 

"  Oh,  sire !  pardon,  pardon !  Send  me  not  into  the 
insane  asylum.  I  will  retract  all;  I  will  believe  that  all 
this  is  false;  that  I  have  only  dreamed — that " 

The  king  nodded  to  his  adjutants,  and  they  dragged 
the  sobbing,  praying  gardener  from  the  room,  and  gave 
him  to  the  watch. 

The  king  looked  after  him  sadly.  "  And  Providence 
makes  use  of  such  pitiful  men  to  control  the  fate  of 
nations,"  said  he.  "  A  miserable  garden-boy  and  a 
shameless  maid  of  honor  are  the  chosen  instruments  to 
serve  the  dynasty  of  the  Hohenzollerns,  and  to  rob  the 
prince  royal  of  Prussia  of  his  earthly  happiness!  Upon 
what  weak,  fine  threads  hang  the  majesty  and  worth  of 
kings!  Alas,  how  often  wretched  and  powerless  man 
looks  out  from  under  the  purple !  In  spite  of  all  my 
power  and  greatness — in  spite  of  my  army,  the  prince 
would  have  flown,  and  committed  a  crime,  that  perhaps 
God  and  his  conscience  might  have  pardoned,  but  his 
king  never!  Poor  William,  you  will  pay  dearly  for  this 
short,  sweet  dream  of  love,  and  your  heart  and  its  illu- 
sions will  be  trodden  under  foot,  even  as  mine  have  been. 
Yes,  alas !  it  is  scarcely  nine  years,  and  it  seems  to  me 
I  am  a  hundred  years  older — that  heavy  blocks  of  ice  are 


412  FREDERICK   THE   GREAT 

encamped  about  my  heart,  and  I  know  that,  day  by  day, 
this  ice  will  become  harder.  The  world  will  do  its  part — 
this  poor  race  of  men,  whom  I  would  so  gladly  love,  and 
whom  I  am  learning  daily  to  despise  more  and  more !  " 

He  walked  slowly  to  and  fro;  his  face  was  shadowed 
by  melancholy.  In  a  short  time  he  assumed  his  wonted 
expression,  and,  raising  his  head,  his  eyes  beamed  with  a 
noble  fire. 

"  I  will  not  be  cruel !  If  I  must  destroy  his  happiness, 
it  shall  not  be  trodden  under  foot  as  common  dust  and 
ashes.  Alas,  alas!  how  did  they  deal  with  me?  My 
friend  was  led  to  execution,  and  a  poor  innocent  child 
was  stripped  and  horsewhipped  through  the  streets,  be- 
cause she  dared  to  love  the  crown  prince!  No,  no; 
Laura  von  Pannewitz  shall  not  share  the  fate  of  Dorris 
Ritter.  I  must  destroy  the  happiness  of  my  brother,  but 
I  will  not  cover  his  love  with  shame !  " 

So  saying,  the  king  rang,  and  ordered  his  carriage  to 
be  brought  round.  He  placed  the  letter,  which  he  had 
dictated  to  Fritz  Wendel,  in  his  pocket,  and  drove  rapidly 
to  the  queen-mother's  palace. 

Frederick  had  a  long  and  secret  interview  with  his 
mother.  The  ladies  in  the  next  room  heard  the  loud  and 
angry  voice  of  the  queen,  but  they  could  not  distinguish 
her  words.  It  seemed  to  them  that  she  was  weeping,  not 
from  sorrow  or  pain,  but  from  rage  and  scorn,  for  now 
and  then  they  heard  words  of  menace,  and  her  voice  was 
harsh.  At  last,  a  servant  was  directed  to  summon  Made- 
moiselle von  Pannewitz  to  the  presence  of  the  queen. 

He  soon  returned,  stating  that  Mademoiselle  Laura's 
room  was  empty,  and  that  she  had  gone  to  Schönhausen 
to  visit  Queen  Elizabeth  Christine. 

"  I  will  follow  her  there  myself,"  said  the  king,  "  and 
your  majesty  may  rest  assured  that  Queen  Elizabeth  will 
assist  us  to  separate  these  unhappy  lovers  as  gently  as 
possible." 


AND  HIS  COURT.  413 

"  Ah,  you  pity  them  still,  my  son  ? "  said  the  queen, 
shrugging  her  shoulders. 

"  Yes,  madame,  I  pity  all  those  who  are  forced  to  sac- 
rifice their  noblest,  purest  feelings  to  princely  rank.  I 
pity  them;  but  I  cannot  allow  them  to  forget  their 
duty." 

Laura  von  Pannewitz  had  lived  through  sad  and 
weary  days  since  her  last  interview  with  the  prince.  The 
enthusiasm  and  exaltation  of  her  passion  had  soon  been 
followed  by  repentance.  The  prince's  eloquent  words 
had  lost  their  power  of  conviction,  now  that  she  was  no 
more  subject  to  the  magic  of  his  glance  and  his  imposing 
beauty.  He  stood  no  longer  before  her,  in  the  confidence 
of  youth,  to  banish  doubts  and  despair  from  her  soul,  and 
convince  her  of  the  justification  of  their  love. 

Laura  was  now  fully  conscious  that  she  was  about  to 
commit  a  great  crime — that,  in  the  weakness  of  her 
love,  she  was  about  to  rob  the  prince  of  his  future,  of  his 
glory  and  power.  She  said  to  herself  that  it  would  be 
a  greater  and  nobler  proof  of  her  love  to  offer  up  herself 
and  her  happiness  to  the  prince,  than  to  accept  from  him 
the  sacrifice  of  his  birthright.  But  in  the  midst  of  these 
reproaches  and  this  repentance  she  saw  ever  before  her  the 
sorrowful  face  of  her  beloved — she  heard  his  dear  voice 
imploring  her  to  follow  him — to  be  his. 

Laura,  in  the  anguish  of  her  soul  and  the  remorse  of 
conscience,  had  flown  for  refuge  to  the  gentle,  noble 
Queen  Elizabeth,  who  had  promised  her  help  and  consola- 
tion when  the  day  of  her  trial  should  come.  She  had 
hastened,  therefore,  to  Schönhausen,  sure  of  the  tender 
sympathy  of  her  royal  friend. 

As  Laura's  carriage  entered  the  castle  court,  the  car- 
riage of  the  king  drew  up  at  the  garden  gate.  He  com- 
manded the  coachman  to  drive  slowly  away,  and  then 
stepped  alone  into  the  garden.  He  walked  hastily 
through  the  park,  and  drew  near  to  the  little  side  door  of 


414  FKEDERICK  THE  GREAT 

the  palace,  which  led  through  lonely  corridors  and  unoccu- 
pied rooms,  to  the  chamber  of  the  queen.  He  knew  that 
Elizabeth  only  used  this  door  when  she  wished  to  take  her 
solitary  walk  in  the  park.  The  king  wished  to  escape  the 
curious  and  wondering  observations  of  the  attendants, 
and  to  surprise  the  queen  and  Laura  von  Pannewitz. 
He  stepped  on  quietly,  and,  without  being  seen,  reached 
the  queen's  rooms,  convinced  that  he  would  find  them  in 
the  boudoir.  He  was  about  to  raise  the  portiere  which 
separated  it  from  the  ante-room,  when  he  was  arrested  by 
the  voices  of  women;  one  piteous  and  full  of  tears,  the 
other  sorrowful  but  comforting.  The  king  let  the  por- 
tiere fall,  and  seated  himself  noiselessly  near  the  door. 

"  Let  us  listen  awhile,"  said  the  king ;  "  the  women 
are  always  coquetting  when  in  the  presence  of  men.  We 
will  listen  to  them  when  they  think  themselves  alone.  I 
will  in  this  way  become  acquainted  with  this  dangerous 
Laura,  and  learn  better,  than  by  a  long  interview,  how  I 
can  influence  her. 

The  king  leaned  his  head  upon  his  stick,  and  fixed  his 
piercing  eyes  upon  the  heavy  velvet  portiere,  behind  which 
two  weak  women  were  now  perhaps  deciding  the  fate  of 
the  dynasty  of  Hohenzollern. 

"  Madame,"  said  Laura,  "  the  blossoms  of  our  happi- 
ness are  already  faded  and  withered,  and  our  love  is  on 
the  brink  of  the  grave." 

"  Poor  Laura ! "  said  the  queen,  with  a  weary  smile, 
"it  needed  no  gift  of  prophecy  to  foretell  that.  No 
flowers  bloom  around  a  throne;  thorns  only  grow  in  that 
fatal  soil!  Your  young  eyes  were  blinded  by  magic; 
you  mistook  these  thorns  for  blossoms.  Alas!  I  have 
wounded  my  heart  with  them,  and  I  hope  that  it  will 
bleed  to  death !  " 

''  O  queen,  if  you  knew  my  doubts  and  my  despair, 
you  would  have  pity  with  me ;  you  "would  not  be  so  cruel 
as  to  command  me  to  sacrifice  my  love  and  my  happiness  1 


AND  HIS  COURT.  415 

My  happiness  is  his,  and  my  love  is  but  the  echo  of  his 
own.  If  it  was  only  a  question  of  trampling  upon  my 
own  foolish  wishes,  I  would  not  listen  to  the  cry  of  my 
soul.  But  the  prince  loves  me.  Oh,  madame,  think  how 
great  and  strong  this  love  must  be,  when  I  have  the  cour- 
age to  boast  of  it!  yes,  he  loves  me;  and  when  I  forsake 
him,  I  will  not  suffer  alone.  He  will  also  be  wretched, 
and  his  tears  and  his  despair  will  torture  my  heart.  How 
can  I  deceive  him?  Oh,  madame,  I  cannot  bear  that  his 
lips  should  curse  me !  " 

"  Yield  him  up  now,"  said  the  queen,  "  and  a  day  will 
come  when  he  will  bless  you  for  it;  a  day  in  which  he 
will  confess  that  your  love  was  great,  was  holy,  that  you 
sacrificed  yourself  and  all  earthly  happiness  freely,  in 
order  to  spare  him  the  wretchedness  of  future  days.  He 
loves  you  now,  dearly,  fondly,  but  a  day  will  come  in 
which  he  will  demand  of  you  his  future,  his  greatness,  his 
royal  crown,  all  of  which  he  gave  up  for  you.  He  will  re- 
proach you  for  then  having  accepted  this  great  sacrifice, 
and  he  will  never  forgive  you  for  your  weakness  in  yield- 
ing to  his  wishes.  Believe  me,  Laura,  in  the  hearts  of  men 
there  lives  but  one  eternal  passion,  and  that  is  ambition. 
Love  to  them  is  only  the  amusement  of  the  passing  hour, 
nothing  more." 

"  Oh,  madame,  if  that  is  so,  would  God  that  I  might 
die ;  life  is  not  worth  the  trouble  of  living !  "  cried  Laura, 
weeping  bitterly. 

"  Life,  my  poor  child,  is  not  a  joy  which  we  can  set 
aside,  but  a  duty  which  we  must  bear  patiently.  You 
cannot  trample  upon  this  duty;  and  if  your  grief  is 
strong,  so  must  your  will  be  stronger." 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  What  name  do  you  give  the  duty 
which  I  must  take  upon  myself  ?  "  cried  Laura,  with  trem- 
bling lips.  "  I  put  my  fate  in  your  hands.  What  shall 
I  do?" 

"  You   must    overcome   yourself ;  you   must    conquer 


416  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

your  love ;  you  must  follow  the  voice  of  conscience,  which 
brought  you  to  me  for  counsel." 

"  Oh,  my  queen,  you  know  not  what  you  ask !  Your 
calm,  pure  heart  knows  nothing  of  love." 

"  You  say  that  I  know  nothing  of  love  ? "  cried  the 
queen,  passionately.  "  You  know  not  that  my  life  is  one 
great  anguish,  a  never-ceasing  self-sacrifice!  Yes,  I  am 
the  victim  of  love — a  sadder,  more  helpless,  more  tortur- 
ing love  than  you,  Laura,  can  ever  know.  I  love,  and  am 
not  beloved.  What  I  now  confess  to  you  is  known  only 
to  God,  and  I  tell  you  in  order  to  console  you,  and  give 
you  strength  to  accept  your  fate  bravely.  I  suffer,  I  am 
wretched,  although  I  am  a  queen!  I  love  my  husband; 
I  love  him  with  the  absorbing  passion  of  a  young  girl, 
with  the  anguish  which  the  damned  must  feel  when  they 
stand  at  the  gates  of  Paradise,  and  dare  not  enter  in. 
My  thoughts,  my  heart,  my  soul  belong  to  him;  but  he  is 
not  mine.  He  stands  with  a  cold  heart  near  my  glowing 
bosom,  and  while  with  rapture  of  love  I  would  throw  my- 
self upon  his  breast,  I  must  clasp  my  arms  together  and 
hold  them  still,  and  must  seek  and  find  an  icy  glance  with 
which  to  answer  his.  Look  you,  there  was  a  time  when  I 
believed  it  impossible  to  bear  all  this  torture;  a  time  in 
which  my  youth  struggled  like  Tantalus;  a  time  in  which 
my  pride  revolted  at  this  love,  with  its  shame  and  humil- 
iation; in  which  I  would  have  given  my  crown  to  buy 
the  right  to  fly  into  some  lonely  desert,  and  give  myself 
up  to  tears.  The  king  demanded  that  I  should  remain  at 
his  side,  not  as  his  wife,  but  as  his  queen ;  ever  near  him, 
but  forever  separated  from  him;  unpitied  and  misunder- 
stood; envied  by  fools,  and  thought  happy  by  the  world  { 
And,  Laura,  oh,  I  loved  him  so  dearly  that  I  found 
strength  to  bear  even  this  torture,  and  he  knows  not  that 
my  heart  is  being  hourly  crushed  at  the  foot  of  his 
throne.  I  draw  the  royal  purple  over  my  wounded  bosom, 
and  it  sometimes  seems  to  me  that  my  heart's  blood  gives 


AND  HIS  COURT.  417 

this  ruddy  color  to  my  mantle.  Now,  Laura,  do  I  know 
nothing  of  love?  do  I  not  understand  the  greatness  of 
the  sacrifice  which  I  demand  of  you  ? " 

The  queen,  her  face  bathed  in  tears,  opened  her  arms, 
and  Laura  threw  herself  upon  her  bosom;  their  sighs  and 
tears  were  mingled. 

The  king  saf  in  the  ante-room,  with  pale  face  and 
clouded  eyes.  He  bowed  his  head,  as  if  in  adoration,  and 
suddenly  a  glittering  brilliant,  bright  as  a  star,  and  no- 
bler and  more  precious  than  all  the  jewels  of  this  sorrow- 
ful world,  fell  upon  his  pallid  cheek.  "  Truly,"  said  he 
to  himself,  "  there  is  something  great  and  exalted  in  a 
woman's  nature.  I  bow  down  in  humility  before  this 
great  soul,  but  my  heart,  alas!  cannot  be  forced  to  love. 
The  dead  cannot  be  awakened,  and  that  which  is  shrouded 
and  buried  can  never  more  be  brought  to  life  and  light !  " 

"You  have  conquered,  my  queen,"  said  Laura,  after 
a  long  pause ;  "  I  will  be  worthy  of  your  esteem  and 
friendship.  That  day  shall  never  come  in  which  my 
lover  shall  reproach  me  with  selfishness  and  weakness  I 
*  I  am  ready  to  be  offered  up ! '  I  will  not  listen  to  him ;  I 
will  not  flee  with  him;  and  while  I  know  that  he  is  wait- 
ing for  me,  I  will  cast  myself  in  your  tirms,  and  beseech 
you  to  pray  to  God  for  me,  that  He  would  send  Death,  his 
messenger  of  love  and  mercy,  to  relieve  me  from  my  tor- 
ments." 

"  Not  so,  my  Laura,"  said  the  queen ;  "  you  must 
make  no  half  offering;  it  is  not  enough  to  renounce  your 
lover,  you  must  build  up  between  yourselves  an  everlast- 
ing wall  of  separation;  you  must  make  this  separation 
eternal!  You  must  marry,  and  thus  set  the  prince  a 
noble  example  of  self-control." 

"  Marry !  "  cried  Laura ;  "  can  you  demand  this  of 
me?  Marry  without  love!  Alas,  alas!  The  prince  will 
charge  me  with  inconstancy  and  treachery  to  him,  and  I 
must  bear  that  in  silence." 


418  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  But  I  will  not  be  silent,"  said  the  queen,  "  I  will  tell 
him  of  your  grief  and  of  the  greatness  of  your  soul;  and 
when  he  ceases,  as  he  must  do,  to  look  upon  you  as  his 
beloved,  he  will  honor  you  as  the  protecting  angel  of  hia. 
existence." 

"  You  promise  me  that.  You  will  say  to  him  that  I 
was  not  faithless — that  I  gave  him  up  because  I  loved 
him  more  than  I  did  myself;  I  seemed  faithless  only  to 
secure  his  happiness !  " 

"  I  promise  you  that,  Laura." 

"  Well,  then,  I  bow  my  head  under  the  yoke — I  yield 
to  my  fate — I  accept  the  hand  which  Count  Voss  offers 
me.  I  ask  that  you  will  go  to  the  queen-mother  and  say 
I  submit  to  her  commands — I  will  become  the  wife  of 
Count  Voss !  " 

"  And  I  will  lead  you  to  the  queen  and  to  the  altar," 
said  the  king,  raising  the  portiere,  and  showing  himself 
to  the  ladies,  who  stared  at  him  in  breathless  silence. 
The  king  drew  nearer  to  Laura,  and  bowing  low,  he  said: 
"  Truly  my  brother  is  to  be  pitied,  that  he  is  only  a  prince, 
and  not  a  freeman;  for  a  pitiful  throne,  he  must  give  up 
the  holiest  and  noblest  possession,  the  pure  heart  of  a  fair 
woman,  glowing  with  love  for  him!  And  yet  men  think 
that  we,  the  princes  of  the  world,  are  to  be  envied  1  They 
are  dazzled  by  the  crown,  but  they  see  not  the  thorns  with 
which  our  brows  are  beset!  You,  Laura,  will  never  envy 
us ;  but  on  that  day  when  you  see  my  brother  in  his  royal 
mantle  and  his  crown — when  his  subjects  shout  for  joy 
and  call  him  their  king — then  can  you  say  to  yourself,  '  It 
was  I  who  made  him  king — I  anointed  him  with  my 
tears ! '  and  when  his  people  honor  and  bless  him,  you  can 
rejoice  also  in  the  thought,  '  This  is  the  fruit  of  the 
strength  of  my  love ! '  Come,  I  will  myself  conduct  you 
to  my  mother,  and  I  will  say  to  her  that  I  would  con- 
sider myself  happy  to  call  you  sister."  Turning  to  Queen 
Elizabeth,  he  said :  "  I  will  say  to  my  mother  that  Made- 


AND  HIS  COURT.  419 

moiselle  von  Pannewitz  has  not  yielded  to  my  power  or 
my  commands,  but  to  the  persuasive  eloquence  of  your 
majesty,  when  the  people  of  Prussia  have  for  years  con- 
sidered their  protecting  angel,  and  who  from  this  time 
onward  must  be  regarded  as  the  guardian  spirit  of  our 
royal  house ! " 

He  reached  his  hand  to  the  queen,  but  she  took  it  not. 
Trembling  fearfully,  with  the  paleness  of  death  in  her 
face,  she  pointed  to  the  portiere  and  said,  "  You  were 
there — you  heard  all  I  " 

The  king,  his  countenance  beaming  with  respectful 
admiration,  drew  near  the  queen,  and  placing  his  arm 
around  her  neck,  he  whispered,  "  Yes,  I  was  there — I 
heard  all.  I  heard,  and  I  know  that  I  am  a  poor,  blind 
man,  to  whom  a  kingdom  is  offered,  a  treasure-house  of 
love  and  all  good  gifts,  and  I  cannot,  alas!  cannot  ac- 
cept it  1" 

The  queen  uttered  a  loud  cry,  and  her  weary  head 
dropped  upon  his  shoulder.  The  king  gazed  silently  into 
the  pale  and  sorrowful  face,  and  a  ray  of  infinite  pity 
beamed  in  his  eyes.  "  I  have  discovered  to-day  a  noble 
secret — a  secret  that  God  alone  was  worthy  to  know. 
From  this  day  I  consider  myself  as  the  high  priest  of  the 
holiest  of  holies,  and  I  will  guard  this  secret  as  my  great- 
est treasure.  I  swear  this  to  you,  and  I  seal  my  oath  with 
this  kiss  pressed  upon  your  lips  by  one  who  will  never 
again  embrace  a  woman  1 "  He  bowed  low,  and  pressed 
a  fervent  kiss  upon  the  lips  of  the  queen.  Elizabeth,  who 
had  borne  her  misfortunes  bravely,  had  not'  the  power 
to  withstand  the  sweet  joy  of  this  moment;  she  uttered 
a  loud  cry,  and  sank  insensible  to  the  floor.  When  she 
awoke  she  was  alone;  the  king  had  called  her  maids — had 
conducted  Laura  von  Pannewitz  to  the  carriage,  and  re- 
turned to  Berlin.  Elizabeth  was  again  alone — alone  with 
her  thoughts — with  her  sorrows  and  her  love.  But  a  holy 
fire  was  in  her  eyes,  and  raising  them  toward  Heaven, 


420  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

she  whispered :  "  I  thank  thee,  O  heavenly  Father,  for  the 
happiness  of  this  hour !  I  feel  his  kiss  upon  my  lips !  by 
that  kiss  they  are  consecrated!  Never,  never  will  they 
utter  one  murmuring  word ! "  She  arose  and  entered 
her  cabinet,  with  a  soft  smile;  she  drew  near  to  a  table 
which  stood  by  the  window,  and  gazed  at  a  beautiful 
landscape,  and  the  crayons,  etc.,  etc.,  which  lay  upon  it. 
"  He  shall  think  of  me  from  time  to  time,"  whispered  she. 
"For  his  sake  I  will  become  an  artist  and  a  writer;  I 
will  be  something  more  than  a  neglected  queen.  He 
shall  see  my  books  upon  his  table  and  my  paintings  on  his 
wall.  Will  I  not  then  compel  him  sometimes  to  think  of 
me  with  pride  ? " 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

THE  SURPRISE. 

The  day  after  the  queen-mother's  interview  with  the 
king,  the  court  was  surprised  by  the  intelligence  that  the 
physician  had  mistaken  the  malady  of  Louise  von 
Schwerin;  that  it  was  not  scarlet  fever,  as  had  been  sup- 
posed, but  some  simple  eruption,  from  which  she  was 
now  entirely  restored. 

The  little  maiden  appeared  again  amongst  her  com- 
panions, and  there  was  no  change  in  her  appearance,  ex- 
cept a  slight  pallor.  'No  one  was  more  amazed  at  her 
sudden  recovery  than  Louise.  With  watchful  suspicion, 
she  remarked  that  the  queen-mother  had  resumed  her 
gracious  and  amiable  manner  toward  her,  and  seemed 
entirely  to  have  forgotten  the  events  of  the  last  few  days; 
her  accusations  and  suspicions  seemed  quieted  as  if  by  a 
stroke  of  magic.  In  the  beginning,  Louise  believed  that 
this  was  a  trap  laid  for  her,  she  was  therefore  perpetu- 


AND  ms  COURT.  421 

ally  on  her  guard;  she  did  not  enter  the  garden,  and  was 
well  pleased  that  Fritz  Wendel  had  the  prudence  and  for- 
bearance never  to  walk  to  and  fro  by  her  chamber,  and 
never  to  place  in  her  window  the  beautiful  flowers  which 
she  had  been  wont  to  find  there  every  morning.  In  a  short 
time  Louise  became  convinced  that  she  was  not  watched, 
that  there  were  no  spies  about  her  path;  that  she  was,  in 
fact,  perfectly  at  liberty  to  come  and  go  as  she  pleased. 
She  resumed  her  thoughtless  manner  and  childish  dream- 
ings,  walked  daily  in  the  garden,  and  took  refuge  in  the 
green-house.  Strange  to  say,  she  never  found  her  beauti- 
ful Fritz,  never  met  his  glowing,  eloquent  eyes,  never 
caught  even  a  distant  view  of  his  handsome  figure.  This 
sudden  disappearance  of  her  lover  made  her  restless  and 
unhappy,  and  kindled  the  flame  of  love  anew.  Louise, 
who  in  the  loneliness  and  neglect  of  her  few  days  of  con- 
finement, had  become  almost  ashamed  of  her  affair  with 
Fritz  Wendel,  and  begun  to  repent  of  her  foolish  love, 
now  excited  by  the  obstacles  in  her  path,  felt  the  whole 
strength  of  her  passion  revive,  and  was  assured  of  her 
eternal  constancy. 

"  I  will  overcome  all  impediments,"  said  this  young 
girl,  "  and  nothing  shall  prevent  me  from  playing  my  ro- 
mance to  the  end.  Fritz  Wendel  loves  me  more  pas- 
sionately than  any  duke  or  baron  will  ever  love  me;  he 
has  been  made  a  prisoner  because  of  his  love  for  me, 
and  that  is  the  reason  I  see  him  no  more.  But  I  will 
save  him;  I  will  set  him  at  liberty,  and  then  I  will  flee 
with  him,  far,  far  away  into  the  wide,  wide  world  where 
no  one  shall  mock  at  our  love." 

With  such  thoughts  as  these  she  returned  from  her 
anxious  search  in  the  garden.  As  she  entered  her  room, 
she  saw  upon  her  table  a  superb  bouquet,  just  such  a 
tribute  as  her  loved  Fritz  had  offered  daily  at  her  shrine 
before  the  queen's  unfortunate  discovery.  With  a  loud 
cry  of  joy,  she  rushed  to  the  table,  seized  the  flowers. 


422  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

and  pressed  them  to  her  lips;  she  then  sought  in  the 
heart  of  her  bouquet  for  the  little  note  which  she  had 
ever  before  found  concealed  there. 

Truly  this  bouquet  contained  also  a  love-letter,  a  very 
tender,  glowing  love-letter,  in  which  Fritz  Wendel  im- 
plored her  to  fly  with  him;  to  carry  out  their  original 
plan,  and  flee  with  him  to  Oranienburg,  where  they  would 
be  married  by  the  priest  who  had  been  won  over  by  the 
Prince  Augustus  William.  To-day,  yes,  this  evening  at 
nine  o'clock  must  the  flight  take  place. 

Louise  did  not.  hesitate  an  instant ;  she  was  resolved 
to  follow  the  call  of  her  beloved.  A  court  ball  was  to 
take  place  this  evening,  and  Louise  von  Schwerin  must 
appear  in  the  suite  of  the  queen;  she  must  find  some 
plausible  excuse  and  remain  at  home.  As  the  hour  for 
the  queen's  morning  promenade  approached,  Louise  be- 
came so  suddenly  ill  that  she  was  forced  to  ask  one  of  the 
maids  of  honor  to  make  her  excuses,  to  return  to  her 
room,  and  lay  herself  upon  the  bed. 

The  queen  came  herself  to  inquire  after  her  health, 
and  manifested  so  much  sympathy,  so  much  pity,  that 
Louise  was  fully  assured,  and  accepted  without  suspicion 
the  queen's  proposal  that  she  should  give  up  the  ball, 
and  remain  quietly  in  her  room.  Louise  had  now  no 
obstacle  to  fear;  she  could  make  her  preparations  for 
flight  without  interruption. 

The  evening  came.  She  heard  the  carriages  rolling 
away  with  the  queen  and  her  suite.  An  indescribable 
anxiety  oppressed  this  young  girl.  The  hour  of  decision 
was  at  hand.  She  felt  a  maidenly  trembling  at  the 
thought  of  her  rash  imprudence,  but  the  hour  was  strik- 
ing— the  hour  of  romantic  flight,  the  hour  of  meeting 
with  her  fond  lover. 

It  seemed  to  her  as  if  she  saw  the  imploring  eyes  of 
Fritz  ever  before  her — as  if  she  heard  his  loving,  per- 
suasive voice.     Forgetting  all  consideration  and  all  mod« 


AND  HIS  COURT.  423 

esty,  she  wrapped  herself  in  her  mantle,  and  drawing  the 
hood  tightly  over  her  head,  she  hastened  with  flying 
feet  through  the  corridors  and  down  the  steps  to  the  front 
door  of  the  palace.  With  a  trembling  heart  she  stepped 
into  the  street. 

Unspeakable  terror  took  possession  of  her.  "  What  if 
he  was  not  there  ?  What  if  this  was  a  plot,  a  snare  laid  for 
her  feet  ?  But  no,  no ! "  She  saw  a  tall  and  closely- 
muffled  figure  crossing  the  open  square,  and  coming  di- 
rectly to  her.  She  could  not  see  his  face,  but  it  was  sure- 
ly him.  Now  he  was  near  her.  He  whispered  the  signal 
word  in  a  low,  soft  tone.  With  a  quaking  heart,  she 
gave  the  answer. 

The  young  man  took  her  cold  little  hand,  and  hurried 
her  forward  to  the  corner  of  the  square.  There  stood  the 
carriage.  The  stranger  lifted  her  in  his  arms,  and  car- 
ried her  to  the  carriage,  sprang  in,  and  slammed  the  door. 
Forward!  The  carriage  seemed  forced  onward  by  the 
wings  of  the  wind.  In  a  few  moments  the  city  lay  far  be- 
hind them.  In  wild  haste  they  flew  onward,  ever  on- 
ward. The  young  man,  still  closely  muffled,  sat  near  to 
Louise — her  lover,  soon  to  be  her  husband!  Neither 
spoke  a  word.  They  were  near  to  each  other,  with  quick- 
ly-beating hearts,  but  silent,  still  silent. 

Louise  found  this  conduct  of  her  lover  mysterious 
and  painful.  She  understood  not  why  he  who  had  been 
so  tender,  so  passionate,  should  remain  so  cold  and  still 
by  her  side.  She  felt  that  she  must  fly  far,  far  away  from 
this  unsympathizing  lover,  who  had  no  longer  a  word  for 
her,  no  further  assurances  of  love.  Yes,  he  despised  her 
because  she  had  followed  him,  no  longer  thought  her 
worthy  of  his  tenderness.  As  this  thought  took  posses- 
sion of  her,  she  gave  a  fearful  shriek,  and  springing  up 
from  her  seat,  she  seized  the  door,  and  tried  to  open  it 
and  jump  out.  The  strong  hand  of  her  silent  lover  held 
her  back. 


424  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

"  We  have  not  yet  arrived,  mademoiselle,"  whis- 
pered he. 

Louise  felt  a  cold  shudder  pass  over  her.  Fritz  Wen- 
del  call  her  mademoiselle!  and  the  voice  sounded  cold 
and  strange.  Anxiously,  silently,  she  sank  back  in  the 
carriage.  Her  searching  glance  was  fixed  upon  her  com- 
panion, but  the  night  was  dark.  She  could  see  nothing 
but  the  mysteriously  muffled  figure.  She  stretched  out  her 
small  hands  toward  him,  as  if  praying  for  help.  He 
seized  them,  and  pressed  them  to  his  heart  and  lips,  but 
he  remained  silent.  He  did  not  clasp  her  in  his  arms 
as  heretofore;  he  whispered  no  tender,  passionate  assur- 
ances in  her  ear.  The  terror  of  death  overcame  Louise. 
She  clasped  her  hands  over  her  face,  and  wept  aloud.  He 
heard  her  piteous  sobs,  and  was  still  silent,  and  did  not 
seek  to  comfort  her. 

Onward  went  the  flying  wheels.  The  horses  had  been 
twice  changed  in  order  to  reach  the  goal  more  quickly. 
Louise  wept  without  ceasing.  Exhausted  by  terror,  she 
thought  her  death  was  near.  Twice  tortured  by  this 
ominous  silence,  she  had  dared  to  say  a  few  low,  sobbing 
words  to  her  companion,  but  he  made  no  reply. 

At  last  the  carriage  stopped.  "  We  have  arrived,"  he 
whispered  to  Louise,  sprang  from  the  carriage,  and  lifted 
her  out. 

"  Where  are  we  ? "  she  said,  convinced  that  she  had 
been  brought  to  a  prison,  or  some  secret  place  of  banish- 
ment. 

"  We  are  in  Oranienburg,  and  there  is  the  church 
where  the  preacher  awaits  us."  He  took  her  arm  hastily, 
and  led  her  into  the  church.  The  door  was  opened,  and  as 
Louise  stepped  upon  the  threshold,  she  felt  her  eyes  blind- 
ed by  the  flood  of  light  upon  the  altar.  She  saw  the  priest 
with  his  open  book,  and  heard  the  solemn  sounds  of  the 
organ.  The  young  man  led  Louise  forward,  but  not  to 
the  altar;  he  entered  first  into  the  sacristy.    There  also 


AND  HIS  COURT.  425 

wax  lights  were  burning,  and  on  the  table  lay  a  myrtle 
wreath  and  a  lace  veil. 

"  This  is  your  bridal  wreath  and  veil,"  said  the  young 
man,  who  still  kept  the  hood  of  his  cloak  drawn  tightly 
over  his  face.  He  unfastened  and  removed  Louise's  man- 
tle, and  handed  her  the  veil  and  wreath.  Then  he  threw 
back  his  hood,  and  removed  his  cloak,  Louise  uttered  a 
cry  of  amazement  and  horror.  He  who  stood  before  her 
was  not  her  lover,  was  not  the  gardener  Fritz  Wendel, 
but  a  strange  young  officer  in  full-dress  uniform  1 

"  Forgive  me,"  said  he,  "  that  I  have  caused  you  so 
much  suffering  to-day,  but  the  king  commanded  me  to 
remain  silent,  and  I  did  so.  We  are  here  in  obedience  to 
the  king,  and  he  commanded  me  to  hand  you  this  letter 
before  our  marriage.  It  was  written  by  his  own  hand." 
Louise  seized  the  royal  letter  hastily.  It  was  laconic, 
but  the  few  words  it  contained  filled  the  heart  of  the 
little  maiden  with  shame.  The  letter  contained  these 
lines : 

"  As  you  are  resolved,  without  regard  to  circum- 
stances, to  marry,  out  of  consideration  for  your  family 
I  will  fulfil  your  wish.  The  handsome  gardener-boy  is 
not  in  a  condition  to  become  your  husband,  he  being  now 
confined  in  a  madhouse.  I  have  chosen  for  you  a  gallant 
young  officer,  of  good  family  and  respectable  fortiine, 
and  I  have  commanded  him  to  marry  you.  If  he  pleases 
you,  the  priest  will  immediately  perform  the  marriage 
ceremony,  and  you  will  follow  your  husband  into  his 
garrison  at  Brandenburg.  If  you  refuse  him,  the  young 
officer.  Von  Cleist,  has  my  command  to  place  you  again 
in  the  carriage,  and  take  you  to  your  mother.  There  you 
will  have  time  to  meditate  upon  your  inconsiderate  bold- 
ness. Frederick  II." 

Louise  read  the  letter  of  the  king  again  and  again; 
she  then  fixed  her  eyes  upon  the  young  man  who  stood 


426  FREDERICK  THE   GREAT 

before  her,  and  who  gazed  at  her  with  a  questioning  and 
smiling  face.  She  saw  that  he  was  handsome,  young,  and 
charming,  and  she  confessed  that  this  rich  uniform  was 
more  attractive  than  the  plain,  dark  coat  of  the  gardener- 
boy  Fritz  Wendel.  She  felt  that  the  eyes  of  the  young 
cavalier  were  as  glowing  and  as  eloquent  as  those  of  her 
old  love. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  laughing,  "  have  you  decided,  made- 
moiselle? Do  you  consider  me  worthy  to  be  the  envied 
and  blessed  husband  of  the  enchanting  and  lovely  Louise 
von  Schwerin,  or  will  you  cruelly  banish  me  and  rob  me 
of  this  precious  boon  ?  " 

She  gazed  down  deep  into  his  eyes  and  listened  to  his 
words  breathlessly.  His  voice  was  so  soft  and  persuasive, 
not  harsh  and  rough  like  that  of  Fritz  Wendel,  it  fell 
like  music  on  her  ear. 

"  Well,"  repeated  the  young  Von  Cleist,  "  will  you  be 
gracious,  and  accept  me  for  your  husband  ? " 

"  Would  you  still  wish  to  marry  me,  even  if  the  king 
had  not  commanded  it  ?  " 

"  I  would  marry  you  in  spite  of  the  king  and  the  whole 
world,"  said  Von  Cleist.  "  Since  I  have  seen  you,  I  love 
you  dearly." 

Louise  reached  him  her  hand. 

"  Well,  then,"  she  said,  "  let  us  fulfil  the  commands  of 
the  king.  He  commands  us  to  marry.  We  will  com- 
mence with  that:  afterwards  we  will  see  if  we  can  love 
each  other  without  a  royal  command." 

The  young  captain  kissed  her  hand,  and  placed  the 
myrtle  wreath  upon  her  brow. 

"  Come,  the  priest  is  waiting,  and  I  long  to  call  you 
my  bride." 

He  led  the  young  girl  of  fourteen  to  the  altar.  The 
priest  opened  the  holy  book,  and  performed  the  marriage 
ceremony. 

At  the  same  hour,  in  the  chapel  of  the  king's  palace, 


I 


I 


AND   HIS  COURT.  427 

another  wedding  took  place.  Laura  von  Pannewitz  and 
Count  Voss  stood  before  the  altar.  The  king  himself 
conducted  Laura,  and  Queen  Elizabeth  gave  her  hand  to 
Count  Voss.  The  entire  court  had  followed  the  bridal 
pair,  and  all  were  witnesses  to  this  solemn  contract.  Only 
one  was  absent — the  Prince  Augustus  William  was  not 
there. 

While  Laura  von  Pannewitz  stood  above  in  the  palace 
chapel,  swearing  eternal  constancy  to  Count  Voss,  the 
prince  stood  below  at  the  castle  gate,  waiting  for  her 
descent.  But  the  hour  had  long  passed,  and  she  came 
not.     A  dark  fear  and  torturing  anguish  came  over  him. 

Had  the  king  discovered  their  plan?  Was  it  he  who 
held  Laura  back,  or  had  she  herself  forgotten  her  promise  ? 
Was  she  unfaithful  to  her  oath? 

The  time  still  flew,  and  she  came  not.  Trembling 
with  scorn,  anguish,  and  doubt,  he  mounted  the  castle 
steps,  determined  to  search  through  the  saloons,  and,  at 
all  risks,  to  draw  near  his  beloved.  Driven  by  the  vio- 
lence of  his  love,  he  had  almost  determined  to  carry  her 
off  by  force. 

Throwing  off  his  mantle,  he  stepped  into  the  ante- 
room. No  man  regarded  him.  Every  eye  was  turned  to- 
ward the  great  saloon.  The  prince  entered.  The  whole 
court  circle,  which  were  generally  scattered  through  the 
adjoining  rooms,  now  forced  themselves  into  this  saloon 
— it  glittered  and  shimmered  with  diamonds,  orders,  and 
gold  and  silver  embroidery. 

The  prince  saw  nothing  of  all  this.  He  saw  only  the 
tall,  pallid  girl,  who  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  room  with 
the  sweeping  bridal  veil  and  the  myrtle  wreath  in  her  hair. 

Yes,  it  was  her — Laura  von  Pannewitz — and  near  her 
stood  the  young,  smiling  Count  Voss.  What  did  all  this 
mean?  Why  was  his  beloved  so  splendidly  attired?  Why 
was  the  royal  family  gathered  around  her?  Why  was  the 
queen  kissing  even  now  his  beautiful  Laura,  and  handing 


428  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

her  this  splendid  diamond  diadem?  Why  did  Count  Voss 
press  the  king's  hand,  which  was  that  moment  graciously 
extended  to  him,  to  his  lips? 

Prince  Augustus  William  understood  nothing  of  all 
this.  He  felt  as  if  bewildered  by  strange  and  fantastic 
dreams.  With  distended,  glassy  eyes  he  stared  upon  the 
newly  wedded  pair  who  were  now  receiving  the  congratu- 
lations of  the  court. 

But  the  king's  sharp  glance  had  observed  him,  and 
rapidly  forcing  his  way  through  the  crowd  of  courtiers, 
he  drew  near  to  the  prince.  "  A  word  with  you,  brother," 
said  the  king ;  "  come,  let  us  go  into  my  cabinet."  The 
prince  followed  him,  bewildered — scarcely  conscious. 
"  And  now,  my  brother,"  said  the  king,  as  the  door  closed 
behind  him,  "  show  yourself  worthy  of  your  kingly  call- 
ing and  of  your  ancestors;  show  that  you  deserve  to  be 
the  ruler  of  a  great  people;  show  that  you  know  how  to 
govern  yourself  1  Laura  von  Pannewitz  can  never  be 
yours ;  she  is  the  wife  of  Count  Voss !  "  The  prince  ut- 
tered so  piercing,  so  heartrending  a  cry,  that  the  king 
turned  pale,  and  an  unspeakable  pity  took  possession  of 
his  soul.  "  Be  brave,  my  poor  brother ;  what  you  suffer, 
that  have  I  also  suffered,  and  almost  every  one  who  is 
called  by  Fate  to  fill  an  exalted  position  has  the  same 
anguish  to  endure.  A  prince  has  not  the  right  to  please 
himself — he  belongs  to  the  people  and  to  the  world's  his- 
tory, and  to  both  these  he  must  be  ever  secondary." 

"  It  is  not  true,  it  is  not  possible !  "  stammered  the 
prince.  "  Laura  can  never  belong  to  another !  she  is 
mine!  betrothed  to  me  by  the  holiest  of  oaths,  and  she 
shall  be  mine  in  spite  of  you  and  of  the  whole  world!  I 
desire  no  crown,  no  princely  title;  I  wish  only  Laura, 
only  my  Laura!  I  say  it  is  not  true  that  she  is  the  wife 
of  Count  Voss !  " 

"  It  is  true,"  whispered  a  soft,  tearful,  choking  voice, 
just  behind  him.     The   prince  turned   hastily;  the   sad 


AND  HIS  COURT.  429 

eye  of  Laura,  full  of  unspeakable  love,  met  his  wild 
glance.  Queen  Elizabeth,  according  to  an  understanding 
with  the  king,  had  led  the  young  Countess  Voss  into  this 
apartment,  and  then  returned  with  a  light  step  to  the 
adjoining  room. 

"  I  will  grant  to  your  unhappy  love,  my  brother,  one 
last  evening  glow,"  said  the  king.  "  Take  a  last,  sad  fare- 
well of  your  declining  sun ;  but  forget  not  that  when  the 
sun  has  disappeared,  we  have  still  the  stars  to  shine  upon 
us,  though,  alas !  they  have  no  warmth  and  kindle  no  flow- 
ers into  life."  The  king  bowed,  and  followed  his  wife  in- 
to the  next  room.    The  prince  remained  alone  with  Laura. 

What  was  spoken  and  sworn  in  this  last  sad  in- 
terview no  man  ever  knew.  In  the  beginning,  the  king, 
who  remained  in  the  next  room,  heard  the  raging  voice  of 
the  prince  uttering  wild  curses  and  bitter  complaints; 
then  his  tones  were  softer  and  milder,  and  touchingly 
mournful.  In  half  an  hour  the  king  entered  the  cabinet. 
The  prince  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  Laura  - 
opposite  to  him.  They  gazed  into  each  other's  wan  and 
stricken  faces  with  steady,  tearless  eyes ;  their  hands  were 
clasped.  "  Farewell,  my  prince,"  said  Laura,  with  a  firm 
voice;  "I  depart  immediately  with  my  husband;  we  will 
never  meet  again !  " 

"  Yes,  we  will  meet  again,"  said  the  prince,  with  a 
weary  smile ;  "  we  will  meet  again  in  another  and  a 
better  world :  I  will  be  there  awaiting  you,  Laura  1 " 
They  pressed  each  other's  hands,  then  turned  away. 

Laura  stepped  into  the  room  where  Count  Voss  was 
expecting  her.  "  Come,  my  husband,"  she  said ;  "  I  am 
ready  to  follow  you,  and  be  assured  I  will  make  you  a 
faithful  and  submissive  wife," 

"  Brother,"  said  Prince  Augustus  William,  extending 
his  hand  to  the  king,  "  I  struggle  no  more.  I  will  con- 
form myself  to  your  wishes,  and  marry  the  Princess  of 
Brunswick." 

MuhlbaCH  19  Vol    1 


430  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

CHAPTER   XVn. 

THE   RESIGNATION  OP   BARON  PÖLLNITZ. 

The  morning  after  the  ball,  Pöllnitz  entered  the  cabi- 
net of  the  king;  he  was  confused  and  sat  down,  and  that 
happened  to  him  which  had  never  before  happened — he 
was  speechless.  The  king's  eyes  rested  upon  him  with  an 
ironical  and  contemptuous  expression. 

"  I  believe  you  are  about  to  confess  your  sins,  Pöllnitz, 
and  make  me  your  father  confessor.  You  have  the  piti- 
ful physiognomy  of  a  poor  sinner." 

"  Sire,  I  would  consent  to  be  a  sinner,  but  I  am  bitter- 
ly opposed  to  being  a  poor  sinner." 

"  Ah !  debts  again ;  again  in  want !  "  cried  the  king. 
"  I  am  weary  of  this  everlasting  litany,  and  I  forbid  you 
to  come  whining  to  me  again  with  your  never-ending 
necessities;  the  evil  a  man  brings  upon  himself  he  must 
bear;  the  dangers  which  he  involuntary  incurs,  he  must 
conquer  himself." 

"  Will  not  your  majesty  have  the  goodness  to  assist 
me,  to  reach  me  a  helping  hand  and  raise  me  from  the 
abyss  into  which  my  creditors  have  cast  me? " 

"  God  forbid  that  I  should  waste  the  gold  upon  a  Pöll- 
nitz which  I  need  for  my  brave  soldiers  and  for  cannon!  " 
said  the  king,  earnestly. 

"  Then,  sire,"  said  Pöllnitz,  in  a  low  and  hesitating 
tone,  "  I  must  beg  you  to  give  me  my  dismissal." 

"  Your  dismissal !  Have  you  discovered  in  the  moon 
a  foolish  prince  who  will  pay  a  larger  sum  for  your 
miserable  jests  and  malicious  scandals  and  railings  than 
the  King  of  Prussia  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  moon,  sire,  is  such  a  mad  individual  to 
be  found,  but  in  a  Dutch  realm;  however,  I  have  found 


AND  HIS  COURT.  '         43I 

no  such  prince,  but  a  beautiful  young  maiden,  wlio  will 
be  only  too  happy  to  be  the  Baroness  Pöllnitz,  and  pay 
the  baron's  debts." 

"  And  this  young  girl  is  not  sent  to  a  mad-house  ?  " 
said  the  king ;  "  perhaps  the  house  of  the  Baron  von  Pöll- 
nitz is  considered-  a  house  of  correction,  and  she  is  sent 
there  to  be  punished  for  her  follies.  Has  the  girl  who  is 
rich  enough  to  pay  the  debts  of  a  Pöllnitz  no  guardian  ?  " 

"  Father  and  mother  both  live,  sire ;  and  both  receive 
me  joyfully  as  their  son.  My  bride  dwells  in  Nuremberg, 
and  is  the  daughter  of  a  distinguished  patrician  family." 

"  And  she  buys  you,"  said  the  king,  "  because  she  con- 
siders you  the  most  enchanting  of  all  ISTuremberger  toys ! 
As  for  your  dismissal,  I  grant  it  to  you  with  all  my  heart. 
Seat  yourself  and  write  as  I  shall  dictate." 

He  looked  toward  the  writing-table,  and  Pöllnitz, 
obeying  his  command,  took  his  seat  and  arranged  his 
pen  and  paper.  The  king,  with  his  arms  folded  across 
his  back,  walked  slowly  up  and  down  the  roora. 

"  Write !  I  will  give  you  a  dismissal,  and  also  a  cer- 
tificate of  character  and  conduct." 

The  king  dictated  to  the  trembling  and  secretly  en- 
raged baron  the  following  words: 

"  We,  Frederick  II.,  make  known,  that  Baron  Pöllnitz, 
born  in  Berlin,  and,  so  far  as  we  believe,  of  an  honorable 
family,  page  to  our  sainted  grandfather,  of  blessed  mem- 
ory, also  in  the  service  of  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  colonel  in 
the  Spanish  service,  cavalry  captain  in  the  army  of  the 
deceased  Emperor,  gentleman-in-waiting  to  the  Pope, 
gentlemen-in-waiting  to  the  Dulve  of  Brunswick,  color- 
bearer  in  the  service  of  the  Duke  of  Weimar,  gentleman- 
in-waiting  to  our  sainted  father,  of  ever-blessed  memory; 
lastly,  and  at  last,  master  of  ceremonies  in  our  service; — 
said  Baron  Pöllnitz,  overwhelmed  by  this  stream  of  mili- 
tary and  courtly  honors  which  had  been  thrust  upon  him, 
and  thereby  weary  of  the  vanities  of  this  wicked  world; 


432  FREDERICK  THE  GREAT 

misled,  also,  by  the  evil  example  of  Monteulieu,  who, 
a  short  time  ago,  left  the  court,  now  entreats  of  us  to 
grant  him  his  dismissal,  and  an  honorable  testimony  as 
to  his  good  name  and  service.  After  thoughtful  consid- 
eration, we  do  not  find  it  best  to  refuse  him  the  testimony 
he  has  asked  for.  As  to  the  most  important  service  which 
he  rendered  to  the  court  by  his  foolish  jests  and  incon- 
sistencies, and  the  pastimes  and  distractions  which  he 
prepared  for  nine  years  for  the  amusement  of  our  ever- 
blessed  father,  we  do  not  hesitate  to  declare  that,  during 
the  whole  time  of  his  service  at  court,  he  was  not  a  street- 
robber  nor  a  cut-purse,  nor  a  poisoner ;  that  he  did  not 
rob  young  women  nor  do  them  any  violence;  that  he  ha8 
not  roughly  attacked  the  honor  of  any  man,  but,  consist- 
ently with  his  birth  and  lineage,  behaved  like  a  man  of 
gallantry;  that  he  has  consistently  made  use  of  the 
talents  lent  to  him  by  Heaven,  and  brought  before  the 
public,  in  a  merry  and  amusing  way,  that  which  is  ridicu- 
lous and  laughable  amongst  men,  no  doubt  with  the  same 
object  which  lies  at  the  bottom  of  all  theatrical  represen- 
tations, that  is,  to  improve  the  race.  Said  baron  has 
also  steadily  followed  the  counsel  of  Bacchus  with  regard 
to  frugality  and  temperance,  and  he  has  carried  his 
Christian  Ioa'c  so  far,  that  he  has  left  wholly  to  the  peas- 
ants that  part  of  the  Evangelists  which  teaches  that  '  To 
give  is  more  blessed  than  to  receive.'  He  knows  all  the 
anecdotes  concerning  our  castles  and  pleasure  resorts,  and 
has  indelibly  imprinted  upon  his  memory  a  full  list  of  all 
our  old  furniture  and  silver;  above  all  things,  he  iinder- 
stands  how  to  make  himself  indispensable  and  agreeable 
to  those  who  know  the  malignity  of  his  spirit  and  his  cold 
heart. 

"  As,  however,  in  the  most  fruitful  regions  waste  and 
desert  spots  are  to  be  found,  as  the  most  beautiful  bodies 
have  their  deformities,  and  the  greatest  painters  are  not 
without  faults,  so  will  we  deal  gently  and  considerately 


AND   HIS  COURT.  433 

with  the  follies  and  sins  of  this  much-talked-of  baron; 
we  grant  him,  therefore,  though  unwillingly,  the  desired 
dismissal.  In  addition  to  this,  we  abolish  entirely  this 
office  so  worthily  filled  by  said  baron,  and  wish  to  blot  out 
the  remembrance  of  it  from  the  memory  of  man;  holding 
that  no  other  man  can  ever  fill  it  satisfactorily. 

"Frederick  II." 


THE  END, 


I 


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CENTRAL  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 

DATE  DUE 

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